Something worth celebrating …

If you have a best friend, you have something worth celebrating! And no time better than today, which is national Best Friends Day.

Of all the things you may experience in your entire lifetime, the joy of friendship — especially a “best friend” — will be one of the richest.

So let’s take a moment to reflect on the great beauty of friendship. To help us do that, here are some descriptions of friendship written by middle school children:

“A friend is a pair of open arms in a society of armless people.”

“A friend is a warm bedroll on a cold and frosty night.”

“A friend is a mug of hot coffee on a damp cloudy day.”

“A friend is a beautiful orchard in the middle of the desert.”

“A friend is a hot bath after you have walked 20 miles on a dusty road.”

When it comes to the great beauty and blessing of friendship, one my favorite stories that so profoundly captures what it means to be a friend is this moving tale from “The Treasure of a Friend” by John Maxwell and Dan Reiland:

Though Jim was just a little older than Phillip and often assumed the role of leader, they did everything together. They even went to high school and college together. After college they decided to join the Marines. By a unique series of circumstances they were sent to Germany together where they fought side by side in one of history’s ugliest wars.

One sweltering day during a fierce battle, amid heavy gunfire, bombing, and close-quarters combat, they were given the command to retreat.

As the men were running back, Jim noticed that Phillip had not returned with the others. Panic gripped his heart. Jim knew if Phillip was not back in another minute or two, then he wouldn’t make it.

Jim begged his commanding officer to let him go after his friend, but the officer forbade the request, saying it would be suicide. Risking his own life, Jim disobeyed and went after Phillip. His heart pounding, he ran into the gunfire, calling out for Phillip. A short time later, his platoon saw him hobbling across the field carrying a limp body in his arms.

Jim’s commanding officer upbraided him, shouting that it was a foolish waste of time and an outrageous risk. “Your friend is dead,” he added, “and there was nothing you could do.”

“No sir, you’re wrong,” Jim replied. “I got there just in time. Before he died, his last words were ‘I knew you would come.'”

If you have a best friend, or any kind of friend, let me encourage you to first thank God for such a blessing, and then to let your best friend or friends know on this, national Best Friends Day, just how much you love them and cherish your relationship.

Scotty