My Best Friend

Do you have a favorite old pair of shoes, or, maybe a favorite old pair of blue jeans, or, perhaps a favorite old sweat shirt? You know the kind that I am talking about...those old favorites that just seem to engulf you in a good feeling! Though the shoes may list to one side, or the jeans may have holes in them, or the sweat shirt may be baggy and stained, when you put them on you just feel yourself go "Ahhhh!"

Through the years I have had several such "oldies". Just recently I discarded a ragged pair of old blue jeans. I am sure that I had worn them for the better of part of eight years. They were nothing special. I bought them at the local Sam's Warehouse for about $12.00. They were by no means what would be called designer jeans. As a matter of fact, they were a little to long for me and a little to big in the waist. But, I wore them until the seat had little holes and the color had long since turned from blue to a dirty, semi-white. Yet, when I put them on, I could feel myself go "Ahhhh!"

That is kind of the way that I think friends are. They are like our favorite "oldies". Friends just have a way of making us go "Ahhhh!" You know what I mean, don't you? Surely you have that friend that you can talk to and feel comfortable around. Someone you don't have to pretend with. Someone who allows you to be your less than perfect self. When around a true friend you just feel at ease. No longer do you have to be a "designer" type of individual. Through the years God has allowed me to have many such friends. I thank God for each one of them. Some of these friends are now dead, some I have moved away from, and some I see only occassinally. Yet, each one has enriched my life. Each one has had an impact upon me. Each one made me go "Ahhh!".

Yet, for all that my friends mean to me and for all of the "Ahhhhs!" that I have felt from being around them, they pale when compared to my "bestest friend", Jesus! The Bible says that there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). I know this verse is dealing with our relationship to others, but I belive that ultimately it is speaking of the great friend of sinners, Jesus Christ. There have been times that I endured problems and difficulties that my friends around me knew nothing of. Even if they had of, their ability to comfort me would have been limited. But, such was not the case for my "bestest friend". He has always known what I was facing and He has always been able to give me comfort and strength. I guess what I am trying to say is this, "Jesus is my favorite oldie. He is the one Who makes me go Ahhhh! when no one else can!" Indeed, He is a friend Who sticks closer than a brother! I trust that you know Jesus as your friend.

Following are the words to a song that my wife, Rhonda, wrote several years ago. The song is entitled "My Best Friend".

When I was down in deep despair
Jesus found me and showed He cared.
He held my hand and led me to the light of day
He took away the dark black night
and showed to me He was the light
if I only let Him lead me in the way.

When things just don't seem to go right
And you want to give up the fight
Just turn to Him and He will give to you the power
To keep on going to the end
And show to you that He's your best friend
Even when it seems to be your darkest hour.

Chorus

He's my best friend. He's my best friend.
He's alway there, to see me through.
He's my best friend. He's my best friend.
And if you will let Him, He'll be yours too.