“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” Proverbs 27:9
Heavenly Father, though the oils and perfumes of my context are different from this proverb’s author, the sweetness of friendship transcends time and place. Thank you for the gift of “sweet friendship” served to us (and savored) these past several days. We came weary, we leave much less so.
All good gifts come from you, so I look heavenward with gratitude. The North Woods of Wisconsin proved, once again, to be the arena in which the heavens declared your glory. I love our cardinals and finches at home, but it’s kind of hard to beat soaring eagles and calling loons every day.
The “oil and perfume” lavished on us weren’t for our heads but for our culinary and cardiac delight. The aroma of your welcome and kindness is profoundly expressed in an open kitchen, and the fifteen feet path to unrushed table fellowship.
So, what “earnest counsel” made our hearts glad this week? Everything from mining the riches of the Gospel and lingering in each other’s stories; to learning how to catch Walleye, teach a full-body-grinning grandson to drive a ski-boat at a hearty-pace, and learning how any of us can blend a bit of water, paint, and brush to make beauty and deepen friendship.
Father, it felt good to travel again. But heart-gladness, “earnest counsel,” and sweet friendship can be given, (and received,) in our offices and homes, on our walks and around any table. May we extend your welcome today. In Jesus’ wonderful and merciful name, we pray.