I
I no longer call you servants, because servants don’t know
what their master is doing. But now I call you friends, because I have told you
everything that my Father told me. John
15:15
I was numb with pain when I heard the words, “There is
nothing they can do for me. I am going on hospice.” I knew it was a death
sentence for my dear friend, Alice. I
replied, “Are you sure you want to do this?” I knew how much fight she had, but
this time she had given up.
I openly let the tears spill down my cheeks as I said, “What
am I going to do without you?” With her soft hands on each side of my face she
looked into my eyes and said, “You will be alright. You know I love you. You
are my best friend in the whole wide world, and you will be alright.” She knew
that as long as I kept Jesus, number one in my life, all would be well.
One thing that made Alice and me close, was the fact that we
confided to each other. In the scripture above, Jesus said, “I have told you
everything that my Father told me.” He had confided to his disciples
enlightening words of, encouragement, warnings, and blessings. Everything the
Father revealed to Him, He disclosed to His disciples. He considered himself a
friend to them, not their master. Through the passed down message in the Bible,
we who listen and hear those words, and act on those words, are considered His
friend also.
Another thing that kept Alice and me close, was a kindness
shown to each other. 1 Peter 3:8 says, “So all of you should live together in
peace. Try to understand each other. Love each other like brothers and sisters.
Be kind and humble.” My friend and I loved each other through our faults, and
downfalls. We listened and had an understanding of each other. We held each
other up in prayer.
Lastly, we were friends because we had a mutual affection
for each other. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man who has friends must show himself
friendly, and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Alice and I
laughed together, cried together, prayed together, and enjoyed each other’s
companionship. A day never went by
without at least a phone call. Her actions revealed that she and I had a bond
that could never be broken, not even in death.
Then the day came, that the Lord called Alice home. The pain
of the void she left in my life was nearly paralyzing. It took me several years
to deal with this grief, but God in His mercy started a long healing process. I
am so grateful for that special bond Alice and I had. God placed her in my life, at His perfect
timing, and even though I felt like she was taken too soon, I know deep in my
heart it was His perfect timing again. I will see her again someday, because
Jesus Christ, my dearest friend of all, paved the way to make that happen.
No earthly friend has ever laid down their life for me,
other than Jesus. His love is everlasting and unconditional. I can talk to Him
freely because He enjoys my company. When
my earthly friend left this world, I went to Him in prayer asking for comfort. Eventually, I asked Him for another
friend. I knew that Alice was irreplaceable, but God listened to my pleas, and
filled a longing in my heart. What a wonderful friend I have in Jesus!
Just like an earthly friend, anyone can go to Jesus to
converse, laugh, cry, plan, confide, rejoice, and confess. He will listen with
no condemnation. If it’s an earthly friend we desire, we need to just ask, and
show ourselves friendly, always remembering that Jesus can be, our best friend in the whole wide world, if we would allow Him.
Dear Father, Thank you for your Son, Jesus, who revealed
Himself as a true friend. Amen
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