New friends?

(01-06-22)– Starting Out Right! –Proverbs 13:20)

My friend, may I ask you a question? When it comes to friends, perhaps old friends may not necessarily always be the best ones?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

I have a pair of old slippers; have had them for many years, actually. You know the kind of slippers I'm talking about. These are the ones you call "old friends." These slippers are the ones with the comfy insides, that fluffy lining that feels good even when you're not wearing socks. Although the soles are still intact, there is but a faint remnant of tread. Then there is that walked-over slouch where the uppers billow out over the soles. As I have a bit of a bow-legged gait these days, mine are a bit more walked over than most. These slippers are stained from a few stray, Saturday morning coffee drips and a patch of salt residue here and there from a stroll out on a winter driveway. I was wearing those "old friends" recently as I went out into the garage to retrieve a piece of wood for the Great Room stove. I lost my grip and it landed on a slippered foot. They may be "old friends," but they sure weren't great ones at that moment.

When it comes to friends, perhaps old friends may not necessarily always be the best ones?

Here's a story: Former prisoner James Knapp confessed to police that he'd robbed two stores in Oklahoma, because he missed his old cell mates. Police accommodated him. I think Mr. Knapp may have expressed something important, how- ever. Friends are absolutely necessary. But do you know who your best friend is? Henry Ford was having lunch with a man, when he suddenly asked the man that very question. "Who's your best friend?" he asked. Ford went on. "I'll tell you who your best friend is," he said. Then he wrote this sentence for the man to read: "Your best friend is he who brings out the best that is within you." Our best friends are those who do more than simply like us. They also believe in us. They support us but, occasionally, they nudge us as well. Someone put it well: "A friend is someone who knows you as you are, understands where you've been, accepts who you've become, and still, gently invites you to grow." Now, who is your best friend? (Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.)

In this New Year, once you and I have secured a quiet, simple, prayerful and worshipful relationship with our loving, Heavenly Father, it's proper and good to fulfill this relationship by seeking good friends, the kind that will encourage us to remain in that personal relationship with God. Friends come in many varieties; some bless us and, unfortunately, some don't. A good friend, the best kind, will help you maintain your walk with God in this New Year. And, when life suddenly drops a blow on you, they will be made of the stuff and not fluff that protects and not harms. The best friends are special and they might not always be "old friends." Seek a new friend this year who will bless you in this life and the next.

We pray. Heavenly Father, we know it's proper and good to fulfill our relationship with You by seeking good friends, the kind that will encourage us to remain in a personal relationship with God. We also know that friends come in many varieties; some bless us and, unfortunately, some don't. A good friend, the best kind, will help us maintain our walk with You in this New Year. And, when life suddenly drops a blow on us, we will be made of the stuff and not fluff that protects and not harms. The best friends are special and they might not always be "old friends." Help us to seek a new friend this year who will bless us in this life and the next. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

New friends?

(01-06-22)– Starting Out Right! –Proverbs 13:20)

My friend, may I ask you a question? When it comes to friends, perhaps old friends may not necessarily always be the best ones?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

I have a pair of old slippers; have had them for many years, actually. You know the kind of slippers I'm talking about. These are the ones you call "old friends." These slippers are the ones with the comfy insides, that fluffy lining that feels good even when you're not wearing socks. Although the soles are still intact, there is but a faint remnant of tread. Then there is that walked-over slouch where the uppers billow out over the soles. As I have a bit of a bow-legged gait these days, mine are a bit more walked over than most. These slippers are stained from a few stray, Saturday morning coffee drips and a patch of salt residue here and there from a stroll out on a winter driveway. I was wearing those "old friends" recently as I went out into the garage to retrieve a piece of wood for the Great Room stove. I lost my grip and it landed on a slippered foot. They may be "old friends," but they sure weren't great ones at that moment.

When it comes to friends, perhaps old friends may not necessarily always be the best ones?

Here's a story: Former prisoner James Knapp confessed to police that he'd robbed two stores in Oklahoma, because he missed his old cell mates. Police accommodated him. I think Mr. Knapp may have expressed something important, how- ever. Friends are absolutely necessary. But do you know who your best friend is? Henry Ford was having lunch with a man, when he suddenly asked the man that very question. "Who's your best friend?" he asked. Ford went on. "I'll tell you who your best friend is," he said. Then he wrote this sentence for the man to read: "Your best friend is he who brings out the best that is within you." Our best friends are those who do more than simply like us. They also believe in us. They support us but, occasionally, they nudge us as well. Someone put it well: "A friend is someone who knows you as you are, understands where you've been, accepts who you've become, and still, gently invites you to grow." Now, who is your best friend? (Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.)

In this New Year, once you and I have secured a quiet, simple, prayerful and worshipful relationship with our loving, Heavenly Father, it's proper and good to fulfill this relationship by seeking good friends, the kind that will encourage us to remain in that personal relationship with God. Friends come in many varieties; some bless us and, unfortunately, some don't. A good friend, the best kind, will help you maintain your walk with God in this New Year. And, when life suddenly drops a blow on you, they will be made of the stuff and not fluff that protects and not harms. The best friends are special and they might not always be "old friends." Seek a new friend this year who will bless you in this life and the next.

We pray. Heavenly Father, we know it's proper and good to fulfill our relationship with You by seeking good friends, the kind that will encourage us to remain in a personal relationship with God. We also know that friends come in many varieties; some bless us and, unfortunately, some don't. A good friend, the best kind, will help us maintain our walk with You in this New Year. And, when life suddenly drops a blow on us, we will be made of the stuff and not fluff that protects and not harms. The best friends are special and they might not always be "old friends." Help us to seek a new friend this year who will bless us in this life and the next. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.