Dear Lord, how the love of my friends towards me rejoices my heart.
Who can describe the feeling in my heart
that comes from knowing people’s love?
It is indescribable.
To be aware that there are people who love me,
even as the miserable sinner that I am,
fills me with hope.
And the source of my hope is the knowledge
that my friends’ love for me is a pale shadow of your love for me
Grant that I may always be faithful to my friends here on earth,
that I may be worthy of your faithful love.
John Sergieff (aka John of Kronstadt) 1829 – 1908, Russian Orthodox priest
HarperCollins Book of Prayers slightly edited
_______________________
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another,
God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
prayer & verse 