Sep 03
Today’s Truth
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2 NIV).
Friend to Friend
Looking out my den window I noticed two of my neighbors puttering slowly down the street. Ernestine, with her 
bald head snuggled in a woolen cap, held tightly to Patti’s supporting arm. Patti’s chestnut hair, just two inches long, shone like a victor’s crown of a cancer survivor.
The previous year, Patti discovered she had breast cancer. For three months she endured chemotherapy followed by seven weeks of radiation. As God would have it, her final treatment fell on Thanksgiving Day. Yes, she had much to be thankful for—a full life, a loving husband, and Ernestine Nevils, her new next-door neighbor who had moved in two years before.
During Patti’s cancer treatment, Ernestine was right by her side, an extension of Jesus’ hands and feet providing love, encouragement, and support. One year after her final radiation treatment, Patti was given the opportunity to return the kindness to Ernestine.
A trip to the doctor revealed that Ernestine had lymphoma, cancer of the lymph nodes. Now Patti was the nurturer. She took Ernestine to her first chemotherapy session and explained what to expect. She told Ernestine what to eat, where to have a wig made, and how to deal with depression.
God has not called us to go through life alone. All through the Bible He brought people together for mutual encouragement and support.
David had Jonathan.
Paul had Barnabas.
Naomi had Ruth.
Mary had Elizabeth.
Let’s look at Mary for a moment. Remember the day the angel, Gabriel, made a shocking announcement to Mary? “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35 NIV).
And what were the next words out of Gabriel’s holy mouth? “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:36-37 NIV).
Isn’t it interesting that right after the angel told Mary her news, he told her about Elizabeth’s news? God knew that Mary was going to need a friend…a friend to affirm her, encourage her, and yes, prophesy over her. He also knew that she was going to need to watch Elizabeth’s pregnancy and delivery so she would be prepared for her own.
Oh sister, God knows that we need godly girlfriends to walk alongside us during difficult days and stressful seasons.
The Bible tells us, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 NIV). The Greek word for burden used here, barē, means an excessive weight, over burden, trouble, or heaviness. I think of it as an overwhelming burden we feel we just can’t carry alone.
Jesus is our burden bearer, but sometimes He intends to provide that relief by giving us the ability to help one another.
In Galatians 6:5 Paul says, “Every man shall carry his own burden.” So, which is it? This Greek word translated burden in verse 5 is phortion and is more like a pack carried by one person. In other words, we all have a responsibility to carry ordinary burdens, but when it is a barē burden like in verse 2, we need each other.
As I watched Patti and Ernestine make their way down the street that chilly November day, I whispered a prayer of thanksgiving for Girlfriends in God… friends with whom we can be His strong arm when a burden is too heavy to bear alone and His voice when a friend has forgotten the words to the song in her heart.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, I am so grateful that You designed women to live in relationship with one another. Open my eyes to see someone who needs a dose of Your love today and give me the wisdom to know how to be an extension of Your grace.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Who is one woman in your life who has helped you carry a heavy burden?
Honor her today by clicking on comment below and saying, “I am thankful for ________.
More from the Girlfriends
One of the ways we can help carry someone’s burden is by offering encouraging words. A word offered at just the right time may make the difference between someone finishing well or collapsing along the way. To learn more about how to use your words to speak life, check out Sharon’s book and study guide, The Power of a Woman’s Words, How the Words You Speak Shape the Lives of Others. Also, check out her list of words to speak and to avoid to husbands, children, adult children and friends on the FREE RESOURCES tab of her website.
© 2021 by Sharon Jaynes. All rights reserved.
I am thankful for Melodie
I am thankful for Cindy.
I’m thankful for Shanna!
i am so thankful for my dear friend, Linda.
So thankful for my sister, Ruth Ann and all my lady friends at church.
I am extremely thankful for my friend who is like a sister, Angela “Cookie”. God gifted us this beautiful friendship!
I am thankful for Kathy Jo.
I am so thankful for my who has passed away, Rev. Argentina E. Glasgow. I’m also blessed and thankful for my 3 daughters Denee, Nakia and India. They have always been there for me. They have been a true blessing in my life.
I am so thankful for my sister, Sandra. She was my best friends!! We are burying her tomorrow. I feel sooo alone. But God!
“Father God….comfort your daughter, Sherri, this day. Let her feel and know in her spirit, she is wrapped in your strength as she is feeling the earthly loss of her sister Sandra. Give her your peace and love; and show her in a special way that you are there for her, in Jesus precious name, Amen.”
I’m so sorry for your loss, (1 Thes. 4:13-14)
Sherri, I echo the prayer spoken by Carol, and, please know that you are loved by many of us in the GIG community who lift your name in prayer this morning.
I am thankful for Donna.
So sorry for your loss, Sherri. I’m lifting you in prayer. God’s peace to you.
I am so thankful for my wonderful spirit filled friend Gail as God has blessed us to support each other in good and difficult times
God, give comfort to Sherri. For You are our Comforter. In Jesus name.
Thank You, Jesus, for my long time friend, Claudeen. Continue to bless and strengthen her and her family.
I am thankful for my friend Ruth. She helped me through a very trying time this spring.
I am so grateful that the Lord brought Diane into my life. I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer three years ago. She is my lymphedema
therapist. She has been there for me and will continue to be there at all times.
I am so thankful for my dear friends Sandra and Debbie!
Sherri, I sympathize with your loss. My baby sister passed almost three years ago and my younger brother around two years before that. Please try to remember “there is a Friend Who sticketh closer than a brother.” Love and prayers.
I am so thankful for my friend Heather who led me to the Lord many years ago. Her friendship and support has meant so much to me. I helped care for her through several bouts of cancer and spent many weeks at her bedside before she passed away. I know I’ll see her in heaven and I am deeply thankful for the time God gave us together.
Today and everyday I’m thankful for my Fab Five. There’s five us all together, we have kids close in age, our Husbands are friends and most importantly we worship together. They’ve became like a band of Sisters to me. Love and appreciate each one of them. ♥️
I’m thankful for Wendy. When I was struggling with anxiety and depression, she got me out of the house and off my butt, she gave me tough love and compassionate talks when I needed them, she helped me correct my thinking and talk things out, and more.
I am so thankful for my prayer friend Anna!
I am so thankful that the Lord provided Diane to be a close friend. I have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and she is my lymphedema therapist. I was diagnosed 3 years ago and she has been walking with me most of that time and will be by my side for whatever time I have left. I can’t thank the Lord enough for her.
It is so wonderful to have a friend like that.
LORD, Thank you for Anaiah who holds her mama up in prayer thru every burden. May I do the same for her.
Thank God for GAs and SWAP!!
Linda. She helped me through my battle with cancer and the death of my husband.
I am thankful for my daughter’s Kim, Tessy and Tina. These 3 girls have held me up these past 3 years after my second husband’s death. God has been good to me and with the girls help I am now in my 3rd year of Bible school at Christ for the Nations in Dallas.
That’s wonderful!
My Lord!! Thank you all so much for your prayers today. I could actually feel God’s strength today during the viewing of my sister Sandra. You will never know how much love I have for each of you.❤🙏
Marilyn, I am praying for you. Be encouraged. Father God,the provider of everything need. Praise and glory be to your wonderful name. Thank you for your great mercies new every morning and for your steadfast love.
Love you GIG!!
We love you too!
I am thankful for all my girlfriends at work! My sister in laws, my daughter and daughter in law. My awesome mother in law! I’m so blessed and I lost my mama in January 2021. My GIG DEVOTIONAL LADIES! I’m so blessed! Thanking Jesus daily.
My husband and my Son are my HEROS!
I am SO thankful for Julie!!!
Tv I am thankful for Lorraine, she led me back to God when I was angry with him for the death of my 18 year old son.
For the past 28 years I am grateful for my Lena
I don’t have someone to name. Can you pray that God
Would provide someone for me. Other than Jesus this life is lonely
I’m so thankful for my cousin Lisa Marie💞. I love her beyond words and appreciate God blessing me with someone in my life that truly has the desire to make a difference in others lives as well. Since we were kids I’ve always admired her desire to live a life for the Lord and she’s always been someone that I could look up to, pray with, encourage and have as an accountability partner as well.
I am thankful for my friend Charlene. A friend for over 45 years!
I am so thankful for Katura.
Dear Sharon,
I know I’ve commented yesterday, but, I had to say “thank you” for your words.
I was struck by, the stand-out scripture (Gal.6:2)”Carry the burdens of others…”and all the ladies words of encouragement,support and burdens.
I am thankful many times for the letters written by Paul, that have lifted me in times of need.
The Church works better, when we work together!
Thank you, for the blessings, Ladies!
I am thankful for my friend Faith.
I am thankful for Judy
I’m so thankful for my family, and friends that pray for my son. He has a 4 year old and going through a divorce……it is a sad situation.I truly want Gods loving will to control this outcome…. Your ministry is so encouraging and a daily blessing!
I am thankful for Gloria
So thankful for Valeria who has loved and cared for our daughter with special needs for the last 13years and has served our family with joy and faithfulness. She is a blessing straight from God’s Hand!!
I am thankful for you too Kara!
I am so thankful for my childhood friends, Jennifer, Karen, Wanda and Gina. I lost my younger sister Danielle to Covid on August 27. They have prayed with me and for me in my time of loss and grief. I love my Goddesses from God! They are all a blessing!
Lord, thank you for the women who stood beside me when Daniel died. They encouraged me, prayed for me, listened to me. Let me be that encourager and listener for those I meet who also have experienced loss.
I am thankful for my dear daughter Nancy. God has blessed me truly with her presence she is and has been available to me in this difficult. I praise God for her and ask God to continue to place her with strength I’m thankful for you everyday I read your post and fortified give me the strength to go on thank you
Thank you God for displaying your true love and Grace for me by surrounding me with a beautiful set of best friends, sisters, and giggle buddies! Every time I think of Anita, Melissa, Monica, Kim, Ketcha, Joy, and Natasch my heart overflows with the thought of “Wow, how blessed am I?”
Praise God for your friends!