Maria joined Tom at the breakfast table, where he sat nursing his coffee and scrolling through the sports commentary.

            “Would you like to go for a walk today? It’s lovely outside.”

            Tom glanced up from his phone. “I’ll walk enough mowing the yard and weed whacking. Why don’t you walk with Sherry? You haven’t done that in a while.”

            Maria frowned. “I don’t know if Sherry wants to.”

            Tom raised his eyebrows. “Why would you say that? You two have been friends for twenty years.”

            “I know, but I’m always the one to reach out to her. I ask her to walk, I ask her to lunch, I call her to see how things are going. She never calls me. Maybe she doesn’t really want to be friends and is just polite when I call her.”

            Tom frowned. “That’s ridiculous. No one keeps track of that sort of thing. How long has this been bothering you?”

            Maria shrugged. “I don’t know. I just wish she’d call me once in a while.”

            Tom drained his coffee mug. “Sometimes you don’t make sense to me. If I wanted to watch the football game tomorrow with Mark, I’d text him. I wouldn’t worry about whether he texted me lately or not. If he wanted to come, he would, and if he didn’t, he wouldn’t.” He rose, mug in hand. “I’m going to get started on the yard before it gets too warm. I think you should call Sherry.” He set his mug in the sink and headed out to the yard.

            Maria sat at the table for a few moments with Tom’s words rolling around her mind. Was she being silly? What if Sherry didn’t want to talk to her? She closed her eyes. “God? I want to talk to my friend and enjoy this beautiful day, but I don’t want to be a burden to her. Can you please help me decide what to do?”

            Maria opened her eyes and moved to the living room to fetch her phone. A sense of peace washed over her as she opened her contacts. What did she have to lose? Either Sherry wanted to see her or she didn’t. And if she did, they’d enjoy walking together. She sent a text and hoped for the best.

            Moments later, a return text appeared.

            I’d love to walk with you. When? I can be ready in 10 minutes. Let me know and I’ll meet you at the park.

            Maria breathed out a relieved sigh. She shot back a text and grabbed her sneakers and sunglasses. After letting Tom know she was heading out, she strolled to the park in the center of the neighborhood, conveniently situated between their house and Sherry and Mark’s. When she reached the park, Sherry approach, her arm bound in a sling.

            “What happened?”

            Sherry shrugged. “I was in a car accident about a month ago. I got a concussion and broke my arm.”

            “Oh, my goodness! Why didn’t you tell me? I would have made you meals and helped you.”

            Sherry turned toward the edge of the park. “That’s why I didn’t call you. I didn’t want you to feel like I was telling you so you would help.”

            “But that’s what friends do.” Guilt settled into Maria’s chest. “I haven’t talked to you in a month, and all this time, you’ve been struggling. I’m so sorry.”

            “Don’t be. I’m just happy to see you and enjoy the sunshine today.”

            Maria fell into step beside Sherry, as she had done so many times before. “It’s crazy. You didn’t call me because you didn’t want to bother me. I would have loved to hear from you. I’ve been feeling a bit lonely, and I would have jumped at the chance to help you out.”

            Sherry turned toward Maria. “I had no idea. Why didn’t you call me if you were lonely?”

            “It sounds kind of silly now, but I didn’t want to bother you. I felt like I was always the one to initiate contact.”

            Sherry shook her head. “And I here I was, trying to muddle through after my accident because I didn’t want to impose on you. Aren’t we a pair?”

            Maria laughed. “We are. Promise me if you ever need anything, you’ll call. I want to help.”

            “I promise. But you need to promise if you ever feel lonely or want to walk, you’ll call me and not wait for me to call first.”

            “It’s a deal.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

God, sometimes we worry too much about what other people are thinking. Please give us the courage to reach out to others. We may find they need us just as much as we need them. Reaching out to friends and family is always a good idea. Thank you for giving us people in our lives, Lord. As it says in Ecclesiastes, two are better than one. If we’re feeling lonely, Lord, please bring someone to our minds who would love to hear from us. And God, thank You so much that You always want to hear from us, no matter what time of day or night. Thank You for being our forever friend. In Jesus’ name, Amen.