An Old Friend                                                                            02-27-15

Proverbs 27:10 (NASB) ¹⁰  Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

Just a short thought today. The Lord took my mother(Memaw) home a couple of weeks ago. Her passing was so very peaceful and for that, I am grateful to God. I mention my mother because over the past three years she had become my friend. For most of my life she was my mother. You know how that goes. Mom calls every now and then to check on her little boy. Tell him what he's doing right and wrong  !! (smile) Scold him for not calling or stopping by. Sound familiar? Maybe, maybe not. But, for me that was the way it had always been. She was Memaw to me.She did her thing and I did mine. Close, but not really intimate.

Well, that changed for me while I stayed with her. Oh no, we didn't have some heavy spiritual relationship, no, not at all. And we butted heads from time to time. But, she became my friend. We developed an "easiness" with each other that had been missing for all my life. We shared some good talks on many different occasions. Mostly about the same things over and over. (Turkey and the end times certainly comes to mind!) You had to be there to understand. But, my point is that we developed a relationship over a relatively short time; and it was a good thing. And now that she is gone I am most appreciative of the time I had to get to know Memaw better. I say that to say this.

Pay attention to the first part of that scripture. It's an independent statement and stands alone. Also, it speaks to an old friend. Not necessarily in years but in time spent. I am reminded of the Don Henley song "New York Minute."

"....if you find somebody to love in this world You better hang on tooth and nail..."

People come and go in our lives.But occasionally one strolls by who is a keeper. You know, a kindred spirit. One that will stick by you through thick and thin.One who has your interests at heart.It takes time to really know who those people are.It takes time to pass that litmus test. They aren't perfect, but neither are we! Ya feelin' me here on this one? But, if they have been by your side for a while, don't throw them away just because they sometimes rub you the wrong way. I'll stop preaching.

In this ball of confusion we call life, we all need somebody. God has designed it that way. It's a microwave culture and we are tempted to discard anything that doesn't supply immediate gratification. Or if those who surround you aren't profitable, get rid of them. If that were the case, we would all be islands standing alone. Listen, brothers and sisters, if you have someone who is truly on your side, take heed once more to the above scripture.

 Proverbs 27:10 (NASB) ¹⁰  Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

Mark these words. The day is coming that a true friend is going to be difficult, nigh impossible to find. 


Hang on tooth and nail.

Proverbs 17:17 (NASB) ¹⁷  A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

God Bless