Words from William: Hamlet

John Wesley once referred to William Shakespeare as “the heathen bard”. I agree that there may be some truth in that.

But Shakespeare had some rare insights into human kind and an unmatched gift to express what he saw.

I taught Shakespeare in high schools both in England and in the States and have often quoted him when preaching.

This week I’ll pass on some of my favorite “Words from William.”

Today a quote from ‘Hamlet’.

“The friends thou hast, their adoption tried, grapple them to thy heart with hooks of steel.”

I had an uncle who used a further quote from this passage “neither a borrower nor a lender be.” He kept to this principle assiduously but he was a reclusive man and had few friends.

Who would you count as truly close friends? Draw a circle round their names and call them “God given relationships”

Cherish these people; pray for them, affirm them, communicate with them and express to them your appreciation.

These are the “hooks of steel “ with which we grapple them to our hearts.

Thus we will have friendships that last for a lifetime and maybe, they will be among those who Jesus said “would welcome us into everlasting habitations” Luke 16.