Monday Morning Manna: Friends: Old and New

I had major surgery last week. I am blessed with a lot of friends, and social media has kept us in contact, but never did I expect the response from long-time friends, as what I received. There were prayers offered and thoughts shared by new friends of only a few months, but friends that I had not heard from in a long time, called and prayed with me over the phone. Others prayed via text message or e-mail. Some just called to check on me and see how I was doing. Strangely enough, it brought song lyrics to mind. Initially, it reminded me of an old camp song, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold.” Then I could hear myself singing along on Roger’s Miller’s song, “Old friends, Lord, when all my work is done bless my life and grant me one, old friend, at least one, old friend.” Finally, it was Bill and Gloria Gather’s chorus that came to mind, “Old friends. You’ve always been there, my old friends. We’ve had more than our share, old friends. We’re all millionaires in old friends.” The idea of being a millionaire led me to Proverbs 14:20, “The rich has many friends.” Keep making new friends, but I hope you have some faithful, long-time friends who still care about you, and communicate with you. More than that – I hope you are one of those to your long-time friends and are becoming that to your new friends.

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.