A Friend Loves at All Times

Day 19


I’m so excited because tomorrow I am going shoe shopping with a dear friend, Linda and her daughter Sarah. We are going to a fabulous store in Asheville that’s 3 stories tall and sells nothing but shoes! This is our annual shoe shopping trip together and I always look forward to it. A shoe shopping trip is always a big treat but more importantly, it’s the opportunity that Linda and I have to spend some time together. Our schedules are so full and we’re so busy with all our activities that sometimes we go for months and don’t even take the time to say hello to one another. But I think of Linda and Sarah often and I know that she does me too. And of course almost every shoe in my closet reminds me of the time spent together laughing, shopping and eating.

As I was studying the Word this morning, I was reminded of Proverbs 17:17 that says ‘A friend loves at all times.’ Sometimes we have friends in our lives that have expectations of us. I’ve had such friends that would become upset with me when I wasn’t available at all times or felt threatened when I developed other close friendships. These friendships don’t last and can become a source of stress and anxiety. But to have a friend that loves at all times, that is delighted to have the opportunity to spend a day together, whether it’s once a year or once a week is a blessing from the Lord. I know that I can call Linda, day or night, with good news or bad and she’s there for me, just as I would be her. I give thanks for this kind of special friendship. And tomorrow, we begin the indoctrination of young Miss Sarah into the special world of marathon shoe shopping. Sarah, rest well tonight for tomorrow is a very big day!