The countdown has begun. In just ten days, my husband and I will pack a truck with our belongings and start our trek across the country to our new home.

Life at the moment reflects a flurry of fun, yet bittersweet dates with dear friends. Saying good-bye has never been easy for me. I prefer the French expression, au revoir, literally translated as “to see again”. Au revoir means our separation will only be temporary, and one day we will see each other again.

Even as I look forward to this new adventure, I can’t help but feel a bit of trepidation as we step into the unknown. I begin to wonder: who will be my new friends? 

Years ago I read this sage advice: to have a friend, first be a friend. 

A woman in the New Testament models the kind of friend I want to be. We find the story of Tabitha in the book of Acts:

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. (Acts 9:36-42 NIV)

Tabitha had a reputation for doing good and helping the poor. This passage specifically mentions the kindness she showed to the widows in her community. In the early church, extended family cared for their widowed relatives. But when a widow had no extended family, the church met their needs. (1 Timothy 5: 3-5)

When Peter entered the upper chamber, he saw Tabitha’s widowed friends weeping because of their great loss. They showed him the evidence of her love-the robes and clothing she had made for them. When I envision this scene, I remember what the wizard told the Tin Man in the movie The Wizard of Oz:

A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others. 

The love of Tabitha’s friends bore witness to her kind and loving heart. After sending everyone out of the room and praying for guidance, Peter resurrected Tabitha and gave her back to her friends. 

This is the friend I want to be. One who sees the needs of others and works to meet them. 

At the end of this passage, we see her miraculous resurrection led many people to believe in Jesus. I realize their belief resulted from the miracle. But would there have been a miracle if Tabitha had not been such a loving friend? Reading between the lines, I believe her love for the widows, and their love for her, prompted this miracle.

Jesus promised us our love for one another can have the same impact:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV)

In this “new commandment” Jesus emphasized our love should be reciprocal and modeled after His love for us. Jesus expressed the greatest love when He died on the cross for our sins:

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13 NIV)

Jesus knew our greatest need and willingly paid the price to meet it. When we willingly put the needs of others above our own, we begin to love like Jesus. And this love becomes a beacon of hope to this dark world.

We bear witness to Jesus by our love for one another. 

Tabitha understood and lived this truth. As I move forward on my next adventure, I pray I can follow her example. Wherever the road leads us, I pray our love for one another will be a witness for the One who expressed the greatest love of all.