Heel and Heal

Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
    who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
Psalm 41:9, ESV

A friend loves at all times.
Proverbs 17:17a, ESV

When a close friend betrayed me, I lost hope in friendship. Being used made me feel foolish for trusting someone with personal details about my life. God, in His grace, revealed the truth to me: Even though a false friend bruised me with her heel, genuine friends could heal me with love. God restored my faith in friendship through the most fitting avenue--Christian friends.

• I had a friend who dropped everything to answer the phone when I called.
• The same friend listened no matter how long I needed to talk. 
• One friend supported all of my decisions when hardly anyone else would. 
• I have another friend who drove across town to comfort me at the drop of a hat. 
• Yet another dear soul flew across the country to sit with me in my pain and loneliness. 
• There's a friend who volunteered to care for my kids when Justin and I needed lots of help.  
• Most graciously, God gave me two friends who empathized with me in my pain because their own trials mirrored mine.

No matter how far away or busy, these friends tirelessly sought to be near in my time of need. All of these friends prayed with me or for me often. God revealed through my own prayers that while one heel friend betrayed me, several heal friends selflessly gave when I often had nothing to give in return. God used the latter to restore my faith in friendship, and I will be forever grateful to them--and Him. 

I love my friends, the many heal ones and, especially, the heel friend. Without the betrayal, I could have missed the many lessons God had for me. I pray God's continued grace, mercy, and blessings in all of their lives.