Friends Near and Far

At ninety-two years old, I spend a lot of time alone in my little trailer. I have wonderful friends at church and the senior center, but still I spend most of the time by myself. However, one day while reading The Upper Room, I realized that I have friends everywhere! In its pages, I read about people who have troubles similar to mine, and I feel connected. I read about fellow Christians who are full of joy, and it uplifts me. If they write more than once, I get to meet them again! And I can visit with them over and over. All I have to do is pick up the devotional and read it as many times as I like. Through The Upper Room’s translations, I have a worldwide community!

And, of course, I have a friend who is closer than a brother — Jesus Christ. He is with me day and night, and I talk to him very often — whether I have big problems or am merely frustrated about something I can no longer do well and need advice to direct me to a new way of doing things. Because I read the Bible often, many characters seem like good friends when I read their stories again.

I experience God’s peace when I remember my friends around the world and the One who is closer than a brother (see Prov. 18:24).