Just yesterday I spoke with a dear friend, Beth. "Do you have time to talk?" "Sure, I am home alone and have nothing to do. What do you need?" began our conversation.
Beth had called me 4 days in a row. Each day, she sounded very low, like she has been crying. She told me she just wanted to hear my voice. Yesterday when she called, I was on my way to Target so I told her I would buy her one of those cards that I could tape a message and give it to her, that way each time she needed to hear my voice she could push the button. Beth assured me it would not be the same.
Day after day, I listened and encouraged her for about 5-10 minutes. She didn't feel she needed to share any details. Beth thought I may guess the person she was struggling with and didn't want to be talking about another. I appreciated that and told her I could still listen and encourage without knowing details or name.
I assured her with Truth. "Of course, God can heal you. His name is Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals. Healing is what He does. It is His character to heal."
Gradually, she shared details of a difficult relationship. She gave no names and she didn't need to... before she started in deeply I shared with her that God has given me a wonderful gift. "I don't remember what people tell me. I have been told all kinds of deep secrets and I simply forget them. Not in an uncaring way, but in a way that I do not attached it to them. When the conversation is over the details are gone." This is such a blessing to be able to see people as they are today, not as they were before.