What is a Friend?

WHAT IS A FRIEND?
Your Heart is your Love, Your love is your Family , Your family is your Future , Your future is your Destiny , Your destiny is your Ambition, Your ambition is your Aspiration , Your aspiration is your Motivation , Your motivation is your Belief , Your belief is your Peace , Your peace is your Target , Your target is Heaven, Heaven is no fun without FRIENDS

The above was sent to me by my buddy Gary Davis, as he knows that I treasure Friends. You see I use the word "friend" very sparingly . You hear people every day refer to another person as a friend. In reality they really mean an acquaintance. You see I think a "Friend" is some one special in your life. Some one that will be there for you till the end. They will be on call for you and be there by your side in the thick or thin. Some body that will listen to you when you are down and out, celebrate with you when you are happy and on top of the world. I have been lucky in life, should I say blessed. I have know a number of people in my life that I consider "Friends". A few has passed on now and I miss them and think of them about every day. Bill Countryman is one of those fellows. I guess he was the one that taught me the real meaning of "Friend." He was like a daddy, brother, mentor, buddy, and just a good all around friend. Bill died in my arms on Sunday April 2, 1988. We were to go fishing that day. He had told his wife Gladys that he was going to surprise me by coming to Church with me, then we would go fishing. Now, Bill is smiling down on me every time I catch a fish.
Since those days, I have been blessed with a few more "Friends" that have moved on to the great beyond. Gene Speed and Clarence Waller to mention the latest. They will always be in my thoughts. Loosing these true brothers has taught me that life is very short and to treasure what you have today, because we are not guaranteed tomorrow. It has taught me too that the most treasured procession you have are not in material things. It has taught me too, and that is why I always will tell you that you were born to a mother and father, in most cases brothers and sisters. That God chose for you. But, "Friends" are your chosen family. You have a chose in the matter when it comes to your really true family. So the next time you say that "so-in so" is a friend, take a minute and think about what you are saying.
Don't forget your four legged friends too. A dog can be the very best friend you have. If you really want somebody to stand by you and actually die for you think about that little guy sitting at your feet. Truly one of Gods greatest blessings can be sitting right at your feet. I could go on for pages on why I think dogs are better than people, but I will leave that to another time.

Some rainy day thoughts from Down on the Sugar Farm.