Fast Friends

Have you ever met someone that you just really hit it off with from the start?  My husband has never met a stranger.  He makes friends everywhere he goes.  The other day, he met his match.

Last week, he had to have a root canal.  After he finished at the dentist, he had to go to the pharmacy to get some things that the dentist had prescribed.  While waiting in line at the pharmacy, a little girl with Down’s Syndrome came up to Joe.  (Only a small percentage of black children have Down’s Syndrome.  They are such sweet, loving people.) Joe greeted her in Fante, the tribal language in our area of Ghana.  She was so surprised to hear a white man speaking Fante.  After she got over her shock, she gave Joe a big hug.  Then, she took Joe’s hand and held on tightly.  It came time for Joe to pay for the medicines.  She had his hand in a vice grip and would not let go.  He needed to get his money out of his left pocket; so, he had to reach around with his right hand to get his money out. 

Joe was ready to leave the pharmacy.  His little friend was still holding his hand.  The girl’s mother tried to pull her away, but she would have none of it.  Joe decided to walk out toward the car. He thought that if he just got in quickly and shut the door, she would have to let go.  Instead, as soon as the doors unlocked, she jumped into the back seat.  She was intent on going somewhere with her new friend.  After about thirty minutes, Joe and the girl’s mother finally got her to get out of the vehicle.

What a lesson in friendship!  We can learn a lot from other people.

Proverbs 18:24 

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly;

and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

If you have a story that you would like to share with us, please e-mail it to me at lo@consfords.com. Please include the name of each family member, your field of service, and a picture of your family if possible.

Until next week, keep your sunny side up!