Hidden blessings

One never knows when we get up in the morning who will come into our lives, and what blessings will become apparent.

Today was one of those days. I had made arrangements with a friend, who I haven't seen for a while, to have lunch. As it turns out, the place where we were to meet was closed, so we ended up in another location, but the place of our encounter was not as important as the opportunity to get caught up on life experiences, joys and struggles ... the stuff that long-lost friends tend to chat about.

In some cases, these kinds of conversations can go on for hours, and they're not confined to any given location. Even as we move from one physical place to another, the recounting can and often does continue, and this was no exception. By the end of the day, we had made a few extra stops on the journey: to deliver some small tokens which will prove to be anything but small to those who will benefit from them, and to pick up some treats for the children who will come to celebrate Easter with us in just a few days' time.

Opportunities to visit with friends can sometimes be rare indeed. They should always be cherished as valued occasions to share a laugh or two, to unburden a heavy heart or to simply walk together along the road of life.