Who’s got your back on Difficult Days?

There’s an often told A.A. Milne story about Winnie the Pooh having a tough day. Piglet asks if he wants to talk about it and Pooh says that he doesn’t think he does.

Piglet says that’s okay, but instead of walking away, he sits down next to his friend. Pooh’s not sure what’s going on so he asks Piglet what he’s doing.

“Nothing, really,” said Piglet. “Only, I know what Difficult Days are like. I quite often don’t feel like talking about it on my Difficult Days either.

“But goodness,” continued Piglet, “Difficult Days are so much easier when you know you’ve got someone there for you. And I’ll always be here for you, Pooh.”

“And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his Difficult Day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs . . . he thought that his best friend had never been more right.”

In real life

I’ve read this story countless times over the years. It’s a children’s story. I’m a grown adult. The story still touches me every time I come across it. I saw it in action just this week. It was raining for the third consecutive day. I was grumpy. I wasn’t upset for any particular reason, I just wasn’t myself. Two friends must have read the tea leaves. They texted me out of the blue to say, “hey, just thinking of you.”

My mood changed instantly. I wasn’t happy-go-lucky, boy-isn’t-life-grand, but I felt a calm that had been missing. It makes me grateful for caring friends who help us when we’re down. I know I would be lost without folks like that in my life. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Thank goodness for good friends.

(If you have problems playing these videos on WP Reader, play them directly on my WP website.)

Carole King – You’ve Got A Friend In Me

Tracy Lawrence – Find out who your friends are

Bill Withers with Stevie Wonder & John Legend – Lean On Me