When I spotted this page in my 'holy colouring book', I immediately called to mind one of my longest-standing minister friends, the one who on here is sometimes referred to as my bestest minister friend in the whole world ever.

She and I trained together, met the Regional Minister who would oversee our settlement together, wound up ministering just six miles apart for six years, went through NAM and final interview together, were handshaked together...and then dispersed, one to Scotland the other to Wales.

During our final year at college, this text was one that was hugely significant for her, and which she interpretted in some wonderful artwork - alas this scan which I did at the time doesn't really do it justice.

As I coloured, I found myself recalling many of the times we've spent together - college retreats, long journeys to or from Manchester, Ministers' Conferences, each other's ordinations and inductions, the 'Make Poverty History' march... and the times we met for coffee and cake at Staunton Harold sitting in a courtyard in the sunshine telling it as it is.  I remember her travelling to Glasgow to visit me at the start of my chemo, as well as the hugely personal things we have shared about our families over the years.

Whether any of this is really 'praying' I don't know.  What I do know is that it reminded me how blessed I am to have this friend - and how much I hope to take up the invitation to visit her in Anglesey before I return to work.

Thank you God, for D, and for the time and space to recall why I am so grateful for her.