Day 6: One WhatsApp Away

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

-Psalm 133:1

I have a confession to make. I have been a bad friend. Over the past few years, several of my friends have lost parents to cancer. I watched their devastation, and was there for them in the immediate aftermath, stayed around after the funeral, but as the months wore on, their wellbeing slipped my mind and I became lax. Sometimes I look back on my distance with shame. A few days ago, another friend approached me to ask for advice “my mum’s friend is dying of cancer, how do I help her?” and I was able to run off an extensive list of wonderful things of which I had only done half. I made a vow to myself to be more present in the lives of my friends—especially the strong ones who always seem to have it all together. Suffering silences us, and oftentimes people who really need a helping hand feel powerless to articulate it with others, even close friends.

So here is a reminder to check on those friends of yours that you know are going through a hard time. It is an effort worth carrying, and a burden worth sharing, if it is someone you truly love. Don’t forget them. You could be the key to alleviate some of their suffering.