The Friend I've Never
Met, 2
Jeanette Berry, July 1994
Update! A few months ago I
mentioned "the friend I had never met"---a fellow I passed each
morning as I left to go to school. He was walking, I was
driving. We moved from a "relationship" of not even
acknowledging one another to one of anticipated greetings, yet we had
never spoken.
Well, I finally met him! My
friend had disappeared and my disappointment seemed renewed each
morning as I drove to school without our usual moment of passing.
But since I knew nothing about him I had no way to look him up.
I regretted that I had not taken time to stop. I was always
in a hurry.
One morning I had stopped by the
bank and as I was pulling out of the parking lot, guess who walked
by---my walker friend! I stopped the car, delighted not only
to see him, but to have an opportunity to find out who he was.
I think he was as delighted as I as we introduced ourselves.
I told him how much his smile as we passed each morning made my
day brighter and how I had recently missed him. After I left
I thought about all the words I had said to a total stranger.
This is a very simple story, but it
has prompted me to realize the impact we have on the lives of
others. Here was a fellow who was just walking down the
street each morning and yet his smile and greeting could influence
my day. If we knew how our lives make an impact on those who
God brings into our paths we would certainly be more careful about
our attitudes, our appearance, and our actions. Books and
songs have been written about this. Teachers and preachers
admonish us to walk circumspectly, but now I have a living example
of what an impact a person can make in your life without ever
saying a word---or even being aware of it.
Copyright © 2008 Truth Helpers Inc.
|