My Friend Woke up at 5AM for Me

For the last 2 months, I’ve had 3 rounds of antibiotics because I kept getting sinus infections. I went to an ENT specialist and he sent me to ARA, which is Austin Diagnostic Imaging Services.

The issue?

I needed to be there at 6:30 in the morning.

I asked a friend if she could come get me, and she agreed. She would have to get up at 5am to get me at 6am.

I told her she was like my sister, because she was willing to do this.

In fact, she is so much dearer and closer to me than my own brother, who I am alienated from. It makes me sad, because I will probably never get to know my nieces. He (my brother) hasn’t even seen my mother in several years though he does send her flowers once a year on her birthday.

My friend and I consider ourselves sisters in Christ, which is a term often used by close Christian friends. We are also sisters in terms of personalities — we share many of the same traits.

I have found this repeatedly in my life as I struggle with cancer. God provides the people I need, and they are happy to help.

There are other people in my life who I now consider family in a way my brother never was. They pray for me, they talk to me, they send me cards or emails or letters. They show me love.

And ultimately — what is family but love?

Yesterday I was missing my father, who died 11 years ago. His best friend’s wife is a Jain scholar who his funeral service.

This elderly man reminds me of Dad, so I called him yesterday to reconnect, in a way, with my own father. And it was lovely and brightened the day for all of us — for me and Mom and for him and his wife and daughter.

While I long to be able to show love for my nieces, I am grateful for those who populate my world and fill it with love and joy.

All of us can find love in our lives when we need it, if we are open to it, and if we trust in our God to provide. But we also need to be generous ourselves. Because I do believe that what you project into the world will be returned to you.

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This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.

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