Friends
A friend loves at all times…
~Proverbs 17:17a NASB
“Do you mind if we pray?” she asked. I didn’t, but we were not friends.
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.
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I did not know Barbara, but I had been given her phone number and told she was looking for a carpool partner. We decided to meet for lunch to decide if we wanted to carpool. As we ate, Barbara asked if we could pray first. She told me she and her family were Christians and accustomed to praying before meals.
I had asked God for a Christian to carpool with who would be a positive influence on my life and become a friend. Barbara’s question now confirmed God had answered my prayer. I needed someone to share and laugh with. In Job, the prophet writes, “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy” (Job 8:21 NIV). And laugh we did. Soon, we shared stories and refreshed our souls.
Our friendship began before our first lunch was over. Soon, Barbara and I became close friends. She loved everyone and had a wonderful—and sometimes mischievous—smile. She was filled with the love of the Lord, accepted me as I was, and loved me anyway. And that could not have been easy to do at that time. I was going through a divorce after an unstable marriage, and my self-esteem was at an all-time low. However, God sent me a Christian car-pooler and a forever friend. Her prayers brought healing for me.
As the years passed, our friendship grew, although we no longer carpooled or saw each other as we once had. Whenever we did get together, we picked the conversation right up where we had left off, even if it was a chance meeting or a phone conversation. The years of Barbara’s friendship were a blessing, and I miss her. I look forward to seeing her in eternity.
God sent Barbara and many other people into my life because He knew I needed friends like them. And maybe He knew they needed a friend like me. I pray I have been, and continue to be, a blessing to many. I am thankful for the friends God has given me at the right time in my life.
From now on I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you.
~John 15:15 KJV
But God gave us the best Friend when He sent Jesus Christ to live as a man. Jesus lived a perfect life so He could die to pay the penalty for our sins. He knew we could never live a sinless life or be good enough to live throughout eternity with Him. His perfect, sinless life qualified Him for the cross. Therefore, He died a criminal’s death and took our sins upon Himself.
Jesus Christ is the Savior and Lord of those who have accepted God’s gift of salvation. He calls you friend. It cannot get any better than that.
Think of ways you can reach out to someone and be their friend.
Father God, thank You for sending Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins so I can live eternally in Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Genre: Nonfiction
Copyright 2020: Friends: Evelyn Wells: All Rights Reserved