Proverbs 14

The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends will be an outsider at their celebrations. Proverbs 14:10

Have you ever had a friend turn their back on you when you needed help? Joe is always ready to come to your party, but where is he when it is time to clean up? Friends are around you during the good times as well as the bad. Don't be the person who just can't understand why their phone never rings. Every time someone has a problem they turn away. They justify their actions by saying "I don't want to get in their way" or "they just need some space". They think "as soon as they get everything back in order I will give them a call. They will have time to talk then."

We become more closer to other people when we go through tough times than when we are celebrating. I have yet to have one of the "bitter moments" be fun. It is usually rewarding, but never fun.

I have a friend who was very sick. During one bad episode, I was just standing back. I didn't want to get in the way. I did end up helping. I few days later my friend told me how comforting it was to have me there when they were having difficulty. "I knew you would do what you could to help," I was told. I felt bad that I had stayed back at first. I promised myself that day that I would step up when a friend needed my help. Even if I didn't feel like I was helping, my friend might.