Consulting with a friend is always a good idea. It gives us a quick perspective that isn’t necessarily our own. It lends us support and can be a moral support when we can confer or talk with someone we trust.
On a deeper level, many of us are believers in a higher power. We talk and pray with God and feel secure in that relationship. When we are threatened or confused, we seek out help from people and professionals around us. We feel supported all the time and understand that our lives have a design and plan that can’t be seen for now.
Here we have a young adult who is conferring with her trusted friend, Zoey. Our pets have a way of understanding that people do not offer. They give us reassurance, but not necessarily advice. Sometimes we already have knowledge, but lack the confidence. Our loyal companions fill the voids in our lives. Zoey can’t make a decision for her, but he is able to be a reassurance and sparks a moment of levity during an UNO game. Then again, maybe they have a secret formula to winning, who knows?
Consulting with someone who keeps things private!
God has given us people and a way of understanding. That is why we gather together to celebrate our Birthdays, Graduations, Anniversaries, and other significant religious holidays. We share one another’s joys and walk with one another during times of sorrow. We witness for each other the way to emerge through challenges. Being alone can become a dangerous habit. We are meant to team up and be in community.
United in service and with ideas helps everyone involved. Together we are stronger and able to help one another. It helps to have someone at the other end of a seesaw to fully enjoy being on the playground. The same holds true in balancing our lives. We enjoy the company of a spouse, the time in sports with our children, and the playing time with our pets. It’s the time sitting with a friend and enjoying lemonade that makes a hot summer day more pleasant and relaxing.
As the years pass, it is the siblings that are able to laugh and share funny childhood stories about mom and dad. It is the cousins laughing about falling out of the tree house or the hide-and-seek games of youth. So remember that consulting with a friend, a counselor, or a family member will restore joy. It can bring resilience to an ailing person. Loneliness is monster that robs us of emotional support, mental energy, and fun.
Enjoy your weekend. Pick up the phone and call someone who is alone. Reach out and wave to a neighbor as you pass bye. Smile at the young mom struggling with small children as a sign of encouragement.