Best Friends

Before I even started kindergarten, I met my best friend.  Both of our mom’s were single moms at the time and because they needed to work, they found a good daycare for us.  I have a lot of great memories from that daycare, but probably the best were with my best friend.  His name is Jason. 

When I first met Jason, he was running around the daycare like a mad man.  If I recall correctly, I think I was actually scared of him at first.  But, then again, I was a bit of a shy kid and I think everyone scared me!  Jason was the stocky type of kid and I was the skinny type – you know, the kind you could look at wrong and he’d break.

Over those early years of our lives, we became best friends.  We did everything together and shared everything with each other:  the things that made us happy and the things that made us scared.  We shared our fears and dreams too.  Jason and I knew everything about each other and we were ok with just being who we were.  There were no charades or hidden agendas.  Yes, we had our share of best friend fights, but we always knew it would be ok and that we would be friends no matter what.

Even though we lived on opposite sides of town and went to different schools, I remember being friends with him throughout grade school.  Going to different schools didn’t stop us from talking on the phone after school or from riding our bikes all over the place together - rain or shine, or snow for that matter.  We were best friends.

I’m not sure what happened after that, but I suppose life just kind of played itself out and we drifted apart.  I’m sure it’s been over twenty-five years or more since I saw him last.  Even so, I think about him every once in a while and about all the crazy stuff we did together. 

I’m not sure I’ve really had a best friend like him since then.  I’ve had a lot of really great friends and actually the person who I would say came the closest to being a best friend as an adult was named Jason too.  

But, I wonder.  Does everyone have a best friend?  Did everyone, at least at one point in their lives, have a best friend like this?  I’m not sure everyone did.  How about now?  You probably have friends, but do you have a best friend?  Is there someone you allow yourself to just be “you” with?  Is there someone you share your heart with and know it is ok if you look like a dork?  Is there someone you call up at any time of the day or night and invite them along to do something with?  Who do you call when you are sad and hurting or when something so exciting just happened you have to tell someone?  Is there someone like that for you?

I realize that many of us have friends.  Some have many, some only just what they need.  But how often do we call them now and invite them into our lives; to come along with us on adventures and to share just about everything with?  How often do we just take our friends (or family) for granted and practically ignore them despite all they have meant to us or done for us?

Our Father in heaven shared something with me recently that really made my heart ache.  He also has done so much for us.  Not only did He give us Jesus as our savior, but this world too.  It’s a place to live and run around; our playground.  He has given us so much and He demands so little in return. 

In the book of Genesis, the Father walked in the garden with Adam and Eve.  He wanted to be part of their lives.  Do you think He feels any differently now?  I caught a glimpse of the sadness He can feel when we run around everyday, doing our own thing, and while at it, forgetting about Him.  We all ignore Him at times don’t we?

In John 15:15 Jesus said, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

Jesus said we are His friends!  He is our savior, but also wants to be our friend!

Today, I challenge you to ask Jesus into your lives.  “Call” Him up and ask him to come along with you today and to share your day with you.  I know He wants to be with you!  Even more, He wants you to invite Him into your life.  He won’t push Himself in and won’t force Himself into your life.  He is kind and gentle and waits for you to call Him.  He wants to be there with you to share all the ups and downs – just like a best friend.  But, He is sad when we don’t include Him.  He loves you.  He loves me, but He does feel ignored and He does feel unimportant to us at times.

I know He feels very sad when we disregard Him and take Him for granted.  It hurts Him when we come to a point that we just expect Him to be there.  We can trust Him to be there because He said He would be, but why do we leave Him out of our lives?  Isn’t He the best of best friends?  Whether you have no best friend or even if you do, Jesus longs to be part of your life.  Won’t you ask Him to join in today?  Love Him back as much as you can, and give Him the kind of room in your heart and in your life today that you do for a best friend.

He deserves it.