A "No Show" means the appointment was made, the counselor reserved time and was ready and waiting to spend that time with them, but the client never showed up. I assume that if a client had too many "No Shows," it would affect the counselor's willingness to make another appointment. It certainly would if I was the counselor!
Yesterday, I was a No Show. I made an appointment with a dear friend. She set aside the time, and was ready and waiting for me at Subway - a favorite lunch spot of ours. After waiting for quite some time, she discovered that she'd been stood up. She had a No Show on her hands, and she went home frustrated and disappointed.
I felt horrible about it. It was unintentional. I apologized profusely. I hated what I'd done. But none of that changed the fact that I'd said I would be there and I was not. No phone call. No notice whatsoever. I was a No show.
As I got my day started today, loving the bright sunshine after a dreary day of rain yesterday, my mind played back over the sorry excuse of friendship that I'd shown my friend. After shuddering and sadly shaking my head over my inexcusable behavior, wishing I could re-do yesterday, yet knowing I couldn't, words to several old, beautiful hymns came to mind.
What a friend we have in Jesus! Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? What a Friend We Have in Jesus
There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus - no, not one! There's not an hour that He is not near us - no, not one! Did ever one find this Friend forsake him? No, not one! No, Not One!
Then my thoughts went to a song from Phillips, Craig, and Dean:
Who am I that You are mindful of me, That You hear me when I call?Is it true that You are thinking of me? How you love me; it's amazing!I am a friend of God; He calls me friend! Friend of God
Then on to another by Selah:
Faithful, faithful to the end, My true and precious Friend,
You have been faithful - faithful, so faithful, to me! Faithful One
The beauty of those songs led me to the Scripture truths behind their lyrics:
John 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.
James 2:23
And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
Psalm 8:3-5
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;What is man that You take thought of him,And the son of man that You care for him?Yet You have made him a little lower than God,And You crown him with glory and majesty!
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
How To Draw Near To God
Psalm 34:4
I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.
1 Corinthians 1:9
God is faithful, Who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalm 117:2
For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!
He is forever faithful! When I draw close to Him, He is always there, without fail. He is NEVER A NO SHOW! He never forgets. His schedule never crowds me out. I never get pushed to the back of His Mind by other things. I'm always on His Mind! I'm so grateful to Him this morning for His constant faithfulness, His unconditional love and mercy, His consistent goodness to me, His little child - a child so prone to wander away from Him! He is my Shepherd, keeping His Eyes always on me, correcting my steps, watching over me in love. He is constantly fulfilling His Word: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you." (Psalm 32:8)
So I bless His Name this day! This is the day He has made, and I will rest in His goodness and love and faithfulness! I will rejoice, and be glad in it!
I Bless Your Name
I appreciate this post, Sherri. I am so thankful that, even though I am like a speck of dust in the vast universe, God loves me and knows me, and teaches me with His loving eye. When people are hurtful to me, or I feel like a big fat nothing, I need to remember that the God who made me wants fellowship with me. His love is steadfast and sure, and endures forever. In this, I can see that He sees me as valuable and worth His attention. It is humbling. And wonderful.
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