Thankful Thursday- Unexpected Friends

Friends are a blessing God appears to have decided to pour out in abundance for me. I love them all. I'm thankful for them all. But today, I'm particularly thankful for an 'unexpected' friend.  She is the author of Counting My Blessings.  I've been following her blog ever since I met her-- somehow through the blogathon (I believe). I look forward to Deb's posts. There is never  a post that does not make me think or encourage me!

I was always thankful for her daily posts, but little did I realize I would have something far greater to be thankful for. About 6 or 7 weeks ago something happened which was quite overwhelming. It was something which had come on the tail end of something else I had just gone through- so I think it was kind of like the straw which broke the camel's back.

I've been through alot in life, but for some reason this particular thing went deep into my heart and I was finding it hard to 'get over it'....for everyone around me, it looked like I was doing just fine...but in myself, I knew I was not quite right.

The situation was such that I was not at liberty to share with anyone near me. They would know the various parties concerned and I did not want to get into a 'gossip' fest or anything like that...so I just kept telling God everything. One night I was kneeling next to my bed just weeping and asking God to help me. "Please heal me God...I don't want this thing to get me down...it isn't worth it..." I prayed all the things I 'knew'-- but it just seemed as though I was in a strait jacket. Then God told me, "write to Deb .

"God I can't write her...I mean I am an avid follower of her blog...but my goodness, she is going to think I'm nuts if I write her with this problem!"

"Write her NOW!"

I stood up and went into my office. I began the email...
 Dear Deb,

I know we don't know each other personally.....


I figured she would think I was crazy telling her my problems...but at this point I knew I had to do this. I didn't know if I would even get a response....or if I did...what the response would be. I certainly was not expecting the response that I got. She wrote back immediately and promised to stand by me in prayer. I could tell by her email that she knew exactly what I was going through. I could also tell that when she said she would be praying for me-- she meant it! I cried with tears of relief and joy.

Over the next few days she sent me emails of encouragement and emails to make sure all was well. I felt my heart healing slowly but surely...I had to do alot of forgiving...repenting...and more healing came. Through it all, I am thankful for Deb, my unexpected friend who God brought in my life!