the benefit of friends

today is the last prayer meeting for 2006. whaaaaat?!?!?! hahaha.. how quickly time flies! christmas is just around the corner (12 days away, to be exact).. and soon, the year will officially be over.

it seems as if 2006 just zipped by (literally!). i barely noticed the days pass. the past 365 days have probably been some of my busiest ever.. and also some of the most stressful: major problems at work.. extremely hectic schedules.. financial concerns.. discernment issues.. illnesses and health problems.. fatigue and insomnia, etc. all these kept me company throughout the year.

2006 sure has been one heck of a stressful year.. but i definitely wouldn’t call it all bad :p for though trials and difficulties abound, God’s grace and blessings abound even more :)

for me, the most important gifts that the Lord has given are the blessings of loved ones: people i love and who love me in return :) i’ve been blessed with the greatest parents in the world (hahaha.. sorry na lang ‘yung iba :p); and i would’ve been content having just both of them (did you know that parents can be really great friends & confidantes?! :p)

but probably to cushion the blows of the tests and trials i had to go through this year, God gave me the unexpected blessing of two special friends. they’re not perfect (who is?!).. but they understand and accept my imperfections.. and they are ever-ready sounding boards and shock absorbers :p

oh.. and did i mention that they’re always around to aid me whenever we’re in urgent need of an article for the newsletter? :p they also help promote (and sell!) our christmas album as well as update and layout our lyrics :) and they do so cheerfully. heck, i don’t even have to ask them.. ‘coz they volunteer! :)

this year, i learned that in friendship, it’s not the length of time you’ve known each other that counts. rather, it’s how much you give of yourselves.. and how willing you are to receive that gift.. that matters :)

“and if you just hold on.. if you find the courage to face it all for another day, someone or something will find you and make it all okay. because we all need a little help sometimes.. someone to help us hear the music in the world.. to remind us that it won’t always be this way.” - meredith grey

yup, i’ve had my share of troubles this year. but i’m glad i was able to suck it up.. to grin and bear it for another day :) ‘coz when i needed a little help, He sent me people to make it all okay :)

thank God for the benefit of friends! it’s going to be a merry christmas, indeed :p

ps: i’m working on that ‘beso beso’ thing :p