The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada for Saturday, 2 May 2015 "Friends and Their Unique Gifts" [from Henri Nouwen's Bread for the Journey]

The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada for Saturday, 2 May 2015 "Friends and Their Unique Gifts" [from Henri Nouwen's Bread for the Journey]
No two friends are the same. Each has his or her own gift for us. When we expect one friend to have all we need, we will always be hypercritical, never completely happy with what he or she does have.
One friend may offer us affection, another may stimulate our minds, another may strengthen our souls. The more able we are to receive the different gifts our friends have to give us, the more able we will be to offer our own unique but limited gifts. Thus, friendships create a beautiful tapestry of love.

For further reflection ...
"Gold leaf was hammered out and cut into threads to work into the blue, purple, and crimson yarns and into the fine twisted linen, in skilled design."[Exodus 39: 3 (NRSV)]

Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Photo by V. Dobson. Scripture chosen by L. Yeskoo.
___________________________________