The sky looked ominous as I was leaving Bible study last night. Before long, what seemed like buckets of rain began to pour. Thunder cracked across the sky, lightning flashed, and the wind made it hard to see even a few feet ahead. This was not just the kind of storm that shakes the trees, but the kind that unsettles your heart. A garbage can flew across the road right in front of my car. I was using the sound of my lane usage technology to help me determine if I was on the road or not…it was that bad.

Unsure and a little afraid, I called my dear friends, Jeff and Michele, who live nearby. Without hesitation, they welcomed me to pull over and find rest at their home. They gave me a safe haven in the middle of chaos… a place to breathe, to regroup, and to be reminded that I wasn’t alone.

After just a few minutes, the storm began to pass. I gathered my things and thanked them sincerely for taking me in on such short notice, but this is the point of sharing all this today… their response surprised me.

They thanked me.

They said it meant a lot that I would call them, that I trusted them enough to reach out and find shelter with them. They saw it as a gift that they could help in some way. In that moment, they reminded me again of something deeply beautiful: this is what Christian love looks like. It’s not just about being willing to serve – it’s about finding joy in doing so.

It reminded me of Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other’s burdens, in this way you fulfill the law of Christ.”

We often think we’re bothering others when we ask for help. But sometimes, letting someone be there for you is a way of blessing them, too. Last night, I saw the love of Christ in my friends (and those same friends show me the love of Christ over and over) in their open door, in their comforting words, and in the way they thanked me for letting them love me.

Who are the people in your life that you can call in a storm, either literal or metaphorical? And just as importantly, are you a safe haven for others? Sometimes, Christian friendship looks like an open door and calm conversation while the thunder rolls outside. ❤️