Do you have friends in your life whose presence just fills your heart with joy? When you know that you are going to see them you anticipate their arrival with delight. You can hardly wait to embrace them, knowing the visit ahead will infuse your spirit with fresh hope. They are fun to be around, and time spent with them brings refreshment. This was Titus. Titus had an enthusiastic love for others that encouraged and blessed the recipients.
As a faithful servant and companion of Paul, Titus is a messenger of glad tidings and a minister of good news. Titus was a man who faithfully invested in the lives of others for their benefit. He deeply cared about their walk with the Lord and he was eager to come alongside to offer comfort.
Yesterday a very dear friend messaged me. Her world was turned upside down just over four months ago. As we have been sharing together and as I see her clinging to the Lord while walking this tremendously, difficult journey, tomorrow is going to be another milestone moment in her life. Information will be announced that has the potential of creating greater grief. Not living nearby I told her how much I longed to be with her, sitting by her side, offering that "Titus touch". She responded with this story.
My friend told me how she has been part of a small, weekly prayer group. One of the participants had recently watched a video about elephants. This gal learned that when one of the female elephants in a herd is hurting, they all form a circle around her to care for her until she is up on her feet and well again. Upon hearing this illustration, this precious circle of praying friends named themselves "The Elephant Tribe". Taking lessons from these pachyderms, they have created a safety circle for opening hearts deeply, knowing that everything shared will not go outside their "circle of elephants". My sweet friend told me that her "sister elephants" will all be with her tomorrow, supporting and loving her when this unwelcomed news is being announced.
I don't know how that depiction of bearing the concerns of others falls on your heart, but its description made me cry. Elephants are powerful and strong. The visual of their surrounding presence gives assurance that nothing is going to penetrate through to harm the one who is weak and needing time to recover.
We all need friends like Titus who by their arrival in our life bring comfort. We need friends who step in when others shy away. Often a Titus friend appears unexpectedly to fulfill a specific calling on their lives and to fulfill a need in ours. I'll always remember my return to church after months at home due to surgery and chemotherapy. I had noticed this gal in the sanctuary the week prior, dark hair, pink spring coat, young children sitting around her, and I questioned my husband if he had ever seen she or her husband before. Now, on this second week back in fellowship with my church family, she came in and sat beside me. We greeted each other pleasantly and introduced ourselves, but really no further conversation occurred before the service started. Standing to sing the final worship song, she leaned over and whispered, "I don't generally do this, but I feel led to give you my phone number and email in case you ever want to connect with me." This began a beautiful friendship. She became a precious Titus to me in the months that followed. Her presence brought delight to my heart and her prayers carried me before our Father's throne of grace.
The "arrival of Titus" brought comfort. Will you bring a "Titus touch" to someone today?
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