Affliction reflections

My closest friend tells me I am an excellent friend, and a good listener. I am always there for here. I wish I could say that I go out of my way to be that kind of a friend, or that it is even a choice I have made. The truth is that all that virtue was "forced" on me. Not being able to drive, I have no choice but to be here for her always, and to listen to her. Am I glad? Yes. If it takes illness and limitation to make me available as a daughter, sister, wife, friend, aunt, who always will have time to sit and chat, then I am very glad for my condition.
I went to a memorial service yesterday for a dear sister in Christ, a woman loved by many. As much as this woman and I had in common, it was not until she was forced by her illness to stay at home and be still that we got to relate to eachother as sisters and co-heirs of the grace of Christ, as women, wives, friends and ladies who like to take pictures.
God has His greater purposes in mind in all the joy and sorrow that comes in to our lives. He can be trusted whatever our present circumstances, and we who are His children can be certain that He is always working for our good.