God’s Grace helps us turn a personal hurt into a loving friendship.

O. Henry, also known as William Sydney Porter, said this about friendship: “No friendship is an accident.” He added, “…to experience friendship is the hardest thing in the world and it is not something you learn in school.” Here is a good example.

Veronica loved her mom’s colorful Waterford crystal bowl. It sat in the center of the family dining room table for decades. Veronica wanted the crystal bowl, because it would remind her of so many warm family memories, which her mother and she both enjoyed so long together. Veronica’s mom promised it would be Veronica’s one day.

After her mom died, however, Veronica’s father innocently gave this coveted bowl to his neighbor, Teresa, for the care she gave to Veronica’s mom in her last few months. Veronica was deeply hurt and never again was able to speak to Teresa.

 After some years had passed, Veronica had an opportunity to explain to Terry the reason for her long, cold silence. When she did, Teresa understood, immediately placing the bowl in Veronica’s hands saying, “Please take. This bowl means more to you than it can ever mean to me."

Amazed and deeply moved, Veronica sadly thought, if she only had the courage to do this earlier, all the years of hurt and hard-heartedness toward Teresa could have ended so much sooner.

Veronica had learned a life-lesson, which we can all grasp from Jesus' preaching of the Good News. O. Henry explained it this way.

Simply put, when others hurt us, if we point out what happened and how it affected us, we can avoid the lingering sting of pain. Because once we realize the “why,” the incident is often easily erased without needless suffering. And then, we can all return to living what Jesus so passionately preached: Loving God and loving our neighbors.

Throughout his preaching, Jesus insisted that loving our neighbor is another way of loving God. In fact, Jesus stated clearly: On these two commandments depend on all the law and the prophets.

Jesus also understood that it’s easy to love a God we do not see, and difficult to love neighbors who we see every day. Living so near we find ourselves competing for and chasing after the same things, as Veronica herself learned. Whatever may be our reasons, loving our neighbors has its shortcomings.

Jesus recommends that in these difficult moments we choose mercy rather than rejection. And when conflicts arise within our family, or with friends and acquaintances, he urges us to settle them quickly.

 Saint Francis de Sales adds these encouraging words:  wounds heal faster when treated quickly. If God can heal our faults in this quick way, we can surely do the same with our neighbors. When we do, we can learn as Veronica did, it gives us more time to love.

A thoughtful approach to friendships:  We have three types of friends in life: friends for a reason, friends for a season, and friends for a lifetime. So, love wisely!