The Blessing of Good Friends
“As the Father has loved me, so
have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will
remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his
love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may
be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” *
It was a quiet summer evening,
perfect for sitting outside and visiting with friends. Al and I had been
invited to sit out on the newly refurbished deck of our neighbors, Jim and Sue
VerHage, along with mutual friends, Steve and Robin Read.
Jim greeted us with a wave when we
pulled into his driveway. He was holding tightly to the leash of an energetic
golden-doodle named Mac!
“Are you dog-sitting?” we asked, while
scratching Mac’s back as the little dog wiggled with enjoyment.
It turned out that Mac was spending
a week with the VerHages while their daughter, son-in-law and two
granddaughters were away on vacation. Mac had to be kept on a leash or tethered
when outside, since there was not a fence around the perimeter of the yard.
With the arrival of the Reads,
there were six of us sitting around the patio table. Mac, now attached to a
long tether, found a convenient place underneath the table. As the evening
progressed, our conversation covered many topics, including the church to which
we all belong, memories of past excursions and recent trips, health issues, the
disappointing losing streak of the Detroit Tigers, favorite books we read
during our childhood, TV characters and movies from the past…
We
stopped talking when someone pointed out a deer nibbling shrubs in the yard of
the neighbor directly behind the VerHages. The deer, a young doe, was half hidden
from view by trees and shrubs, and didn’t seem bothered by our observing her.
Instinctively, several of us held on to Mac’s tether, which by that time had
been wound around the base of the table.
Although Mac was sitting near the
edge of the deck looking out to the yard, he either didn’t catch wind of the
doe or was content to just watch her. Most likely the first scenario. When she
sauntered away, we all relaxed and let the tether go slack as we continued the
conversation.
Suddenly the table was jolted, with
glasses spilling over and snacks spraying on to the deck. Mac had spotted
something else, maybe a rabbit, and lunged off the deck after it, tugging the
heavy table along with him. It didn’t move far…and neither did Mac, who came to
an abrupt halt on the lawn!
We got a good laugh out of that,
while Mac resumed his place under the table and busily cleaned up the snacks
that had been spilled on the floor. Things were soon set back in order. Mac was
untethered and taken into the house; and we went back to visiting.
As we were getting ready to leave
at the end of the evening, Sue commented on the fact that we, the Reads, VerHages
and Lowerys, have gone through a lot together. She was so right!
When we were all in our senior
stage of life, we three couples relocated to Michigan from out of state to be
closer to our kids and grandkids. Al and I ended up in the same neighborhood as
Jim and Sue VerHage. The six of us became members of the same church, and during
the Covid pandemic were part of a neighborhood backyard church that prayed,
worshipped and read the Bible together.
Often the Lord brings us together
with just the right people, good people who bless us. This has happened over
and over throughout my lifetime. How grateful I am for the blessing of good
friends! Thank you Lord!
Think of all the things true
friends do: they accept, support and encourage each other; help out when
needed; pray for each other…living out Jesus’ command to love one another. Selfless
love!
“Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.” * (John 15:13 NIV)
“Bind us together, Lord
Bind us together
With cords that cannot be broken
Bind us together, Lord
Bind us together
Bind us together in Love”
(“Bind Us Together” Bob Gillman
1974)
*John 15:9-12 NIV
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