I think Sharing Lives is a great charity and I am privileged to be a part of it. If there any questions or issues to do with visiting there is always someone to contact for advice. The lady I visit has become a friend. She has limited mobility but that does not stop us going to all sorts of places and having fun together. We share a love of all things creative. Our favourite places to visit are Garden Centres, local parks and cafes. Pembroke Lodge is a favourite even though we seem to get attacked by greedy jackdaws who pinch our food each time we go.  I see my lady once a week on Friday afternoon and we both benefit from our times spent together as we share life experiences and faith stories. My friend has come to events at my church and the regular meetings we have for more senior citizens and it has been helpful to introduce her to other church members and visitors. We share time during warmer days in my garden where Bracken and Nutmeg our two dogs keep her occupied through constantly presenting a ball to throw – according to them why else would someone be sitting there after all?

Slowly and over time, I have learned a great deal about my friend’s past and life in general and she now knows much about mine, so we do, in practice, share our lives. It is a privilege to talk to her, honestly, about how my Father in heaven loves and sustains me and we can be honest about struggles and joys – a true friendship. If I am honest, there are times when, in a busy week, the pressure of visiting can seem onerous, but once we meet this sense dissolves and we spend some wonderful times together.

During the Covid-19 lockdown we spoke on the phone most days. My husband and I did some shopping for our friend but mostly it was the regular contact that she appreciated the most. Finding creative ways of staying in touch during that time involved acting as a library service, she devoured Gervais Phinn and James Herriot novels as well as some Christian literature that we added to the stock. It made me think that the charity could consider how to equip beneficiaries with IT support should similar circumstances occur again.

If anyone is reading this and wondering whether to become a befriender with Sharing Lives, I can testify how richer my life is through being involved with the work. You can and do make a difference to people’s lives as you share God’s love with them in this way. God has really blessed us both through this encounter and I would suggest that He could do that for you too. It is a joyful service and benefits me as much as my dear friend and I can really recommend being a part of this initiative.

Maria James