As we hurry and scurry through our daily life, caught up in our numerous tasks, we often neglect to reach out the hand of friendship to our neighbours or complete strangers we meet along our way. Sometimes we are just too busy to offer the companionship of a meal, often because we feel what we have is not special enough. Often when I think about this I reflect on my sister, and the years in her early life when some people did offer what they had – and the love that went along with it. My sister, who left home at an early age, lives in Labrador City now and comes home periodically for visits. Although her time here is short and hectic, she always makes time to see some special friends from her childhood. Quite a few of them are girls belonging to a very large family, whose mom died while most of them were quite young. That there’s real love between them is evident from the warm hugs and embraces they exchange when they meet and the never-ending chatter of the good old days. During her trip last summer I asked her about the friendship and how it developed and the reason for the warm feelings so evident between them. She told me she spent many hours with them playing together in the summer sun, and then off to their house for supper. I remarked that with such a large family and no mother to prepare supper how could they find enough for one more person. “Oh it was really no problem,” she non-chalantly replied, “It was mostly always porridge.” I was humbly and deeply ashamed of the many times I didn’t ask someone to stay for a meal at our house because I didn’t have something special. That porridge, so freely given, so wonderfully enjoyed, and given with such childhood love and tons of laughter, has bonded special feelings between that family and my sister that has spanned over half a century. The love in that home was very evident and the hand of friendship was extended without an iota of thought that the meal had to be grand or special. All those girls are married now, have wonderful husbands and children, and have made a mark on the community they live in. I wish I could give you their names but experience bids me not. I wonder if they remember the porridge they shared with a little girl who too had lost her mother and who so needed their love and affection. Wherever you are – God Bless you!   Submitted By: NULL