By Doug Creamer
Old Friends
I graduated from James Madison University many years ago. I transferred there as a sophomore, which meant that JMU did not have to provide housing. I rented a room off campus with eight other guys. It was not a good situation. The guys drank and used drugs constantly. I needed to get away from that environment.
During this time I attended two churches. One had many college students and the other was predominately an older congregation. I struggle with the use of the word “older” as I am currently the age of many of the members at that time. I told the church that I needed to get out of the bad situation. One couple decided they would help me. They rented me a room in their home. I am not sure if they adopted my future wife and me or we adopted them, but we became family.
We have stayed in contact with them since we were in college. He has passed away but she is now living in a retirement center. Last weekend we went to visit our dear friend and surrogate mother. It was a bittersweet time. It was great to see her and to share with her our special memories of time we spent together through the years. It was sad because time and age have stolen many of those sweet memories from our dear friend.
While we were in town, I went to church in hopes of seeing someone I knew in college. One guy roomed with me during my first year of teaching. He and his wife are still teaching high school. They are considering retirement, which I highly recommended. We shared our teaching, life, and spiritual journeys. It was so good to see him and to catch up with him. We shared some great laughs and memories of our year teaching together.
I also ran into another friend, a guy who was in my wedding. I used to stay with this friend’s family on some weekends. I became close with his whole family during the time out on their dairy farm. His dad told me I was welcome at their home any time and I could come in at any hour. But…I was getting up with the entire family at some ungodly hour to help bring in the cows for milking. I also had to help with other chores when I was out there.
I listened carefully as this friend shared his journey through life. He had been through some difficult times. He talked with me about how he had persevered through the tough times to develop his faith. He shared how the Lord had told him that he had to trust God with the difficult circumstances and not allow worry or fear to capture him. He shared how God was faithful in each situation. The joy in his heart and spirit could not be hidden.
I exchanged contact information with both of these guys and look forward to renewing our friendships. Both friends have done great things for the kingdom and have plans to continue pouring into the next generations. Spending time with these guys stirred my faith and encouraged me in my walk with the Lord. Hearing their stories of faith and perseverance challenges and spurs me to press on.
I am glad for these two men and this sweet older lady in my life. They strengthen my resolve to continue persevering in my own life. Their fellowship and friendship are more precious than gold to me. Their stories illustrate God’s faithfulness through the challenges and difficulties in life. We need to share our stories with each other so we can spur each other on to greater things in the Lord. We need to share our faith journeys with each other so we can remind ourselves and each other of God’s faithfulness through the ups and downs of life. Sharing our stories helps to build faith, hope, and courage to press on, especially when we may feel like giving up. God will not fail us, leave us, or reject us because He loves us so very much!
I want to encourage you to connect with your old friends. Let them know how much they mean to you. Share with them how God has seen you through the challenges of life. Each of us has a unique perspective and experience with God and sharing those experiences can be encouraging and life changing. Old friends are treasures that need to be savored. I thank God for my old friends, for their spiritual battle scars, their testimonies, and their commitment to God and our friendship.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
