Just to Be with You

Relationships are vital! We hear that loneliness is so prevalent these days, up to 36% of all Americans experience “serious loneliness.” As one ages, our friends and siblings pass and our world narrows. So, we must confront this loneliness by prioritizing relationships with those around us.

Once, when making a pastoral visit to a resident, I spent a few minutes with him to get acquainted and then offered to pray with him. As I was preparing to leave, he asked, “Are you leaving already? Can’t you stay for a while?” That caused me to stop and think. In fact, I moved closer to listen and did stay for a while longer.

Let us pause and consider, are we taking time to just be with the people our life touches each day and those who are close to us? It means stopping what one is doing long enough to sit down with them. It means making a phone call and really listening. It means being interested in another. Take time to just Be With them.

With the rise of individualism, some think we are sufficient in ourselves. Just the opposite is true, for we all need relationships. We need someone with whom to talk, someone who listens to us, someone to sit by, someone with whom to eat a meal, and someone to love. Love is shown in many ways, but one of the strongest ways is taking time to be together.

That applies in our relationship with the Lord Jesus also. Jesus commended Mary, the sister of Martha, for taking time to sit and listen to Him, to learn from Him, just to be with Him. “Mary sat before the Master hanging on every word he said” (Luke 10:39). Jesus commended her by saying this was the most essential part and Mary chose well (v. 42).

Let us treasure our relationships and take time to be fully present with those around us and with our Lord Jesus.

Sherree Lane, Campus Pastor, Scandia Shores