In this site...
Friends
"The world is so empty if one thinks only of
mountains, rivers and cities; but to know someone here and
there who thinks and feels with us, and though distant, is
close to us in spirit - this makes the earth for us an
inhabited garden."
-Johann von Goethe
An Any Weather Friend
by Teresa Bell Kindred
There's
an ol' James
Taylor song
that says,
"You just
call out my
name
and you know
wherever I
am, I'll
come running
to see you
again.
Winter,
spring,
summer or
fall, all
you have to
do is call,
and I'll be
there, yes I
will. Cause
you've got a
friend."
and you know
wherever I
am, I'll
come running
to see you
again.
Winter,
spring,
summer or
fall, all
you have to
do is call,
and I'll be
there, yes I
will. Cause
you've got a
friend."
The song was
popular when
I was in
high school
and my
friend
Annette and
I adopted it
as our theme
song. Now,
almost
thirty years
later, if I
call she
comes
running and
vice versa.
She rejoices
with me when
I'm happy
and she's
one of the
first people
I call when
I'm feeling
down.
My sister-in-law Kelly came into my life later than Annette but she also falls into the "best friend" category. Last week when I learned that someone else was offered a job I had applied for, I called her. I really wasn't upset but she thought I might be. Within minutes she was at my door, kidnapping me and taking me to the local ice cream parlor for a pralines and caramel Sundae. There's nothing better than a good friend and comfort food to lift your spirits (and expand your waistline!).
Later when I told Annette about not getting the job she said, "You know, I've found it's a lot easier when I turn things over to God and say 'Not my will, but Your will be done.'"
He still is an "any weather friend" to us.
My sister-in-law Kelly came into my life later than Annette but she also falls into the "best friend" category. Last week when I learned that someone else was offered a job I had applied for, I called her. I really wasn't upset but she thought I might be. Within minutes she was at my door, kidnapping me and taking me to the local ice cream parlor for a pralines and caramel Sundae. There's nothing better than a good friend and comfort food to lift your spirits (and expand your waistline!).
Later when I told Annette about not getting the job she said, "You know, I've found it's a lot easier when I turn things over to God and say 'Not my will, but Your will be done.'"
He still is an "any weather friend" to us.
She's right
of course.
And I think
that's why I
really
wasn't
upset. Yes,
I wanted the
job and
thought I
had a good
chance at
getting it.
However, I
had prayed
and asked
God to lead
me where He
wanted me to
go and so I
know that He
has other
plans for
me. Looking
back over my
life there
are so many
times I
could have
spared
myself
disappointment
and anguish
if I had
only trusted
Him more.
During Jesus' last days on this earth He was with His friends constantly. He wasn't a "fair weather friend." He was an "any weather friend" to his disciples. He still is an "any weather friend" to us. That's the kind of friend I want to be, one that is always trusted and can always be counted on. One that always comes running when their name is called.
Jesus died for his friends. He loved us enough to save us enough to go to the cross, to suffer mockery and pain. He could have called for ten thousand angels to rescue him, but He didn't. Why? To save us from sin.
Jesus wants to be your best and most trusted friend. Won't you let him?
I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it — the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.
-John 15:12-13, NLT
During Jesus' last days on this earth He was with His friends constantly. He wasn't a "fair weather friend." He was an "any weather friend" to his disciples. He still is an "any weather friend" to us. That's the kind of friend I want to be, one that is always trusted and can always be counted on. One that always comes running when their name is called.
Jesus died for his friends. He loved us enough to save us enough to go to the cross, to suffer mockery and pain. He could have called for ten thousand angels to rescue him, but He didn't. Why? To save us from sin.
Jesus wants to be your best and most trusted friend. Won't you let him?
I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it — the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.
-John 15:12-13, NLT
© 2004
Teresa Bell
Kindred.
Visit her
website at
http://www.teresakindred.com.
Courtesy of
HeartLight
Magazine (Heartlight.org).
Photo by
Kevin Rohr.