John 15:12,14 – This is my commandment that you love one another, as I have loved you. You are friends if you do whatever I command you.

Friends come in all sizes and shapes. They bring with them any assortment of knowledge. You can't buy them anywhere, can't force anyone to be a friend and you sure cannot not be a friend if you are one.

Some come into our lives and stay. Some come in for a time and leave. Some, like pieces of the finest thread, weave in and out of our lives. And some, come in for a specific purpose and exit. Some friends meander along with us throughout our lives, like a little stream on a lazy day, gentle, soft, there. We are those friends in others' lives, also.

Some friends are shared friends with other people. Some are friends of others' friends which we sometimes don't even know for awhile. Some friends are life-long friends, made in childhood, known to each other first.

Then, there is one friend which we can all share, every one of us, if we wish. Not one person can lay claim to having met him first. No one has to worry about this friend coming and then leaving, or weaving in and out. This friend is here to stay, even when we think he isn't, or when we think that we do not need Him.

Jesus is a life-long friend. He is willing to be everyone's life-long friend, for now, for ever and always. We must strive, too, to be that kind of friend to Him.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you for our ability to be friends, for the "Friend we have in Jesus", and for you, our friend's Father. In his name we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Mary Daniel <marydee@shaw.ca>
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
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