May you experience the pleasures of friendship that Stevie Smith talks about in her short but perfect poem :

The pleasures of friendship are exquisite,
How pleasant to go to my friend on a visit!
I go to my friend, we walk on the grass,
and the hours and moments like minutes pass.

The joy of sharing is so deep within us we often take it for granted. Recently I went for a walk with a dear friend and her dog. It was stunning, the sky was blue, the berries red and old man’s beard was draped over the bushes. I would have noticed all of this if I was by myself but somehow sharing it with a friend increased its wonderfulness.

At this time of year the focus is increasingly on the family. Some of us are blessed to have loving supportive families but many are not. This can be a difficult time for folk with the bombardment of images of happy families. Friends can also be family, close and caring and interested in each other’s lives. They are not always given the importance in our lives that I feel is valid.

So when we have a moment in this busy season, let’s give a moment’s breath to our friends and hold them close.