The Power Of Friendship… Hello Hump Day readers. My devotion today is because of a birthday—our neighbor. Gloria and Hal were new to us, but now we’re going on 4 years of friendship that continues to grow and we love it! So, on Saturday night, we were invited to her birthday. Oh what a wonderful time. Gloria is from Columbia and a lot of her family were there. The food-oh my gosh, but more than that, the joy we experienced with her family and their friends.

But let me tell you why we needed this so much: their politics and ours are completely the opposite. In such a contentious election, many of us have lost friends—even family. But not Gloria and Hal. When we’re up in New Mexico, they are always ready for when the monsoon comes and trashes the creek; there they are raking and moving sand and mud for us! On Saturday night Gloria said “thank you for celebrating with me, you are such wonderful neighbors and friends.” My tears flowed with joy and I remembered my dad’s words: politics should never come between a friendship.” To this day my dad’s wisdom is there to help me!

Then I was reminded of the story about David Carver from Asheville, NC. He was among the dozens who died in the mountainous counties there due to hurricane Helene this year. He tried to divert water away from his home—working with a shovel in driving rain; sadly his house gave way in the mudslide and took him with it. His life-long friend, Ken Fisher, rushed to help after Carver was swept into a drainage pipe now trapped by trees and other debris. Ken poured water over Carver’s face to wash off mud so he could open his eyes, told him his wife was safe and prayed with him. “I told him I wasn’t going to let him die there, I said ‘I’m going to get you out of there.” Ken-at 60-had his own dangerous health problems, but he wouldn’t let his friend down; he stayed with Carver for 11 hours until EMS were able to get him out of the pipe. Sadly, due to the extreme trauma to his internal organs, Carver died early the next morning, with family and his beloved friend, Ken.

Monday was Veterans Day. I immediately thought of our military, soldiers—just like Ken Fisher (who was a Marine) and how they helped so many and how they stuck to their motto, “no one left behind.” Isn’t that what Jesus says about friendship in John 15:12-13  [NLT]: “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Scriptures give us many words about friendship and the need for friendship, here’s a few:

1 John 4:11 NLT: “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.”

Job 6:14 NIV: “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.”

Job 16:20-21 NLT: “My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God. I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends.”

Proverbs 17:9 ERV: “Forgive someone, and you will strengthen your friendship. Keep reminding them, and you will destroy it.”

Proverbs 18:24 GNT: “Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family.”

Luke 16:9 NLT: “Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.”

Thomas Aquinas said “There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.” So true! Al and I have a couple that live in Wisconsin. We are now going on 43 years in our friendship. Even though they are far away, they are with us in cherished memories which give us encouragement, laughter, and a bedrock friendship nothing can shatter. We are also blessed in our bible study group with friendships from 3 years to 15 years—what a treasure.

I have a job for you all: take some time this week—maybe today—and think about the friends in your life. Are they still with you? Why or why not? Is there something blocking that friendship? Please use the motto “no one left behind” and reach out to them if possible. If not, pray for them and ask God to bless them and give you reconciliation. Our best friend is Jesus, he will never sever our friendship. So as best as we can let’s do likewise. AMEN.