Just recently I have been caught up in what we used to call "cat fights" in other words fall-outs between women friends. I say friends in that I have known these two women most of my married life, maybe thirty years or more. They are neighbours and friends. Just lately for an unknown reason their friendship has changed and one of them rang me early this morning to say she hated how I backed "X" up and how dare I? This upset me to say the least. But then I am a woman and I can be over-sensitive. ME? YES!

So I was a bit blue when I fired up my computer then who should pop into my screen on Messenger but Bessy! She was her normal cheerful self and I thought what a contrast to my other two friends. Thank goodness there is always someone to cheer me when I am down, someone to support me when I am weak, and here in real time, someone to call me on the phone or pull me up in a shopping centre to say "hello". What would I do without acquaintances, friends and family?

I rang my daughter early this morning to see how her husband was. He is just back home after a kidney stone operation and she said mostly sleeping still as he was weakened by the whole episode. She is glad to have him home at least to advise her as she struggles to look after the family, the home and the needs of her Salvation Army Corps. She is only new in town so is having to rely on the ministry from people she hardly knows but that is okay too. Angels come to us in all shapes, sizes and guises.

I just got back from an old friends funeral. He was an invalid for many years. His nephew said he had all the illnesses you would find in a medical book and a few more they haven't discovered yet and that is about the truth but he rode his scooter through his neighbourhood dressed as Santa handing out treats to the kids, sang with our Lions Club's singing group in retirement villages and nursing homes and sold tickets not only to benefit our Club but other charity organizations too. What we here call "a good bloke". Helping others is sometimes frowned upon or laughed at now. We are "God botherers" or "do gooders" yet without those who are charitable and give of themselves and their time where would the poor, the down-on-their-luck, the abandoned and the lonely be? Charity dollars have to be raised by someone in every community.

Thinking about all this makes me think I have to do more in my community. I know I have Ray to look after and that is a big job, but there is also in me a tendency to make it an excuse. "OH I'd love to help but I have Ray you know." so I wave my hand at him sitting in the wheelchair and sail off on my shopping trip. But that is not always the whole truth. Like everyone else I have 24 hour days and like everyone else I choose what I will do with them. So I can find some time to lend a helping hand, if I really want to. So maybe I need to work out how I can achieve this.

We are after all friends to those in need. A friend to the poor, the weak, the lonely, those who need support. For at some time or other that describes us. We have all been in need of help ourselves. Just being here on Strokenet proves that. We all need support so we find it in the company of others. That doesn't make us "do gooders" does it? It just makes us human with all the usual human failings. Every one of us is frail in some area of our lives, just as each of us is strong enough to hold out a hand and help others. It has to be a two-way exchange.

I thought of the "cat fight" when I saw the old friends sister-in-law and remembered that she went to school with my sister. A recollection of her and another five year old charging at each other in the playground and tumbling over and over in the dust came to my mind. She is probably still passionate about some issues and that makes for a little conflict in life sometimes. Think it over and see if the occassional "cat fight" doesn't leave us licking our wounds but also looking for a reason why what we say and do sometimes brings out the worst in others.

I wish for you all, good friends, and the blessings that come from serving and supporting others.