If you asked me to draw a picture of true friendship, I would take up a pencil and sketch you this scene. I’d have to start with the background, of course, before you would see the main characters begin to take shape.

First I’d outline how we came to be in such a state — my husband and me, that is. We’d been married no more than a year, doing campus ministry together at a college in Cape Town, raising our own financial support. The Lord blessed us with faithful supporters and sustained our work through their generosity. A donation came on a monthly basis via international transfer, from a gracious couple in the United States. We depended on those funds for our basic needs.

Then one month, there was a glitch in the banking transaction. I don’t remember all the details exactly, except that we knew we weren’t going to get “paid” that month. The deficit was significant, and we were sure the next several weeks would be a struggle.

Other supporters of ours heard about our conundrum. They lived near us in Cape Town and had become dear friends. Without hesitation the wife announced to me, “I’d like to take you grocery shopping.” I must admit, I was rather dumbstruck.

She hadn’t asked the typical question, “Is there anything we can do for you?” and given me the opportunity to give my typical response: “Oh, thanks for asking, but we’ll be okay.” She hadn’t even made the generic offer, “Let us know if we can help in any way!” If that had been the case, I could’ve easily skirted around the offer and avoided inconveniencing them.

No, she just put it right out there: “I’d like to buy groceries for you. Let’s go together so you can get exactly what you need.”

I hummed and hawed a little, but truth be told, we really did need groceries, and I didn’t see any other way we’d manage to purchase food. I couldn’t deny this was direct provision from the Lord. Our friends had seen our need, and they had willingly sacrificed their time and money in obedience and service to God in order to be a blessing.

I’ll never forget it.

I can still see the grocery store aisles — my friend and I strolling side by side, each with our own squeaky cart (or trolley, as they say in South Africa). At first I was conscientious and somewhat embarrassed by the things I placed in my cart. I tried to keep to the bare minimum, not wanting to look like I was abusing her generosity.

But she kept prodding me, “Don’t you need this? Here, you can use this to make something with that. Oh, I cook this all the time — here, take some for yourself, too.”

Aisle by aisle, we filled our carts with enough food to last for weeks. Not just milk, bread, and eggs. She wasn’t there to ensure we ate toast and beans for the next month. She abundantly blessed us with more than we needed, out of love for us and love for God.

This story has stayed with me for several reasons.

For one, it was a living example of the generosity of God. Of His faithful provision, and how He is able to do abundantly more than all we ask or imagine {Ephesians 3:20}. Of how we shouldn’t worry about tomorrow, for He feeds the birds of the field, and we are worth more than many sparrows {Matthew 6:25-34}.

More than that, our friends showed us what true friendship looks like. Prayer helps, and prayer is powerful, but when our friends saw the need, they didn’t just say, “Oh, we’re so sorry you’re struggling. We’ll pray for you.” Instead they put hands and feet to their love, and became the hands and feet of Christ.

And we’ll always be grateful.

[linebreak]

Related: Has someone blessed you with a generous act of kindness? One fun way to say “thank you” is to give them this 5×7 print: We Change the World When We Simply Meet the Needs of Another by Kristen Welch

Leave a Comment