Scripture

But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you.

~2 Corinthians 7:6-7, NLT

Quote

“I can live for two months on one compliment.”

~Samuel Clements

I don’t believe everything I read but in Ken Hughes book, DISCIPLINES OF A GODLY MAN, he quotes Alan McGinnis is saying only one out of ten men have a true friend. Personally, I find that hard to believe. I may be deceived, but I think I have many friends. My greatest wealth, other than Christ is in my family and friends. Hughes says that women value friendship much more than men. According to Hughes, men tend to think that real men don’t need others. He says we are in a trend toward individualism, isolation and privatization and it is not good. He even believes this trend is revealed in our architecture. The biggest room in the house is the three care garage and the smallest is the living room or parlor {the room we use to entertain guest}. In modern houses, the walk in closet of the master bed room is bigger than the hospitality room. Our yards are getting smaller and our fences higher. I think Hughes is a city dweller. I do not think his statistics hold up in the rural deep South.

When it comes to male friendship, we usually think of David and Jonathan. After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt. {1 Samuel 18:1-4} Jonathan was a prince and David was a shepherd, yet Jonathan saw huge potential in David and recognized the anointing of God on his life. Jonathan gave David his royal wardrobe and his sword. From this point on, Jonathan is an advocate for David. In thick and thin, Jonathan was always there encouraging David and giving him moral support. When Jonathan was killed in battle, David mourned…How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan! Oh, how much I loved you! And your love for me was deep, deeper than the love of women! The bond between Jonathan and David was not romantic or erotic, it was agape, the unconditional love that enables a person to love selflessly.

I had never thought about it until I was reading Hughes book, David needed Jonathan much more than Jonathan needed David. I know it is hard for us to picture David as inferior but Jonathan was the strength of the relationship. Although Jonathan was the prince in waiting, he wanted David to be the king. He always affirmed David, always supported David and even promoted David’s interest above his own. Jonathan was the kind of friend that could have held David accountable in later years.

Do you recognize the name Anne Sullivan? You are having to think, are you not? What about Helen Keller? You did not have think, did you? Immediate you thought about the incredible girl who mastered five languages although she was blind and deaf. Helen is the one who became famous, the one who wrote books and letters to crown heads in Europe but it was Anne Sullivan who devoted her life to Helen. It was Anne Sullivan who broke through the barrier that no one else had been able to penetrate. Anne Sullivan gave up her life, her dreams, for the sake of a raging, angry four year old girls who had tantrum after tantrum because she was locked into a world of darkness and frustrated because she had no way to communicate. You may not have a friend like Anne or Jonathan but I am willing to bet you have friends. Appreciate them, thank God for them: they are much more precious than gold. If I were writing on parchment today, you would see tear stains. I thank God for my friends.

Extra

This week is zooming by and I am getting in as many parties as I can–two yesterday. We did get some bad news. Mary Bradley 38 year old son was found dead in his apartment. I love Mary and Steve. I spent three hours with them on Tuesday. Mary said that I had not been gone more than five minutes when she got the devastating news. Pray for Mary and Steve. Visitation is Saturday at Warrior Creek Baptist Church just south of Arab. Visitation from 12:00-2:00 and COLS at 2:00.

I hope you have a great day and I want to thank you for taking the time to read the blog. A special shout out to our friends in Grand Bay, Alabama.