still treading with me

 We all need a Dave and Dina. Maybe not this Dave and Dina- although I know many of you are their peeps- but everyone needs A Dave and Dina. If you google "how to be a friend", I am pretty sure their photo would pop up. If I were half the friend to people like they have been to me, my life would be rich indeed. And I'm not talking monetary rich but the rich that really means something.
Longevity. A word that describes our friendship. They came into my life when I was 17. I was literally dying from ulcerative colitis at the University of Michigan. They visited me in that hospital room as a stranger and left with a tight grip on my heart. They let me be me. They loved me as I was. Of course, I had this Christianity thing all figured out. Or so I thought. Then life took a hard turn. Not only was I faced with an unrelated illness, I was hit head on with this bizarre diagnosis of ataxia. I was drowning in uncharted waters. Dave and Dina were treading water with me.

And they are to this day.
They are missionaries in Vienna now. But that doesn't mean they love me any less. They were back in the states for some meetings and family time. In their craziness, they took the time to connect with me.
Our visit was exactly what I needed. It reminded me that I am not alone. There are days that I feel like I can't swim anymore. I get weary of choking on this vast ocean of water. The waves seem too big. Just when I think I can't do this much longer, I am loved on by Dave and Dina.
My hope is that you may have A Dave and Dina, too.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:2–3a, ESV).