Friend?

I was invited to our Boys Brigade awards evening last night. I suppose I go along maybe once a term to help out with craft activities or to gatecrash their carol service. I always enjoy it – we have a small but lovely group of enthusiastic boys and some excellently dedicated leaders who put together an amazing programme of varied sessions.

Anyway, after witnessing an active half an hour of dodgeball, indoor hockey and football we went into a room where parents were congregating to witness their boys make their promises and get certificates and badges for achievement and attendance. Their chaplain, our minister Rev Paulson gave them out and posed with the boys for photographs. And then… much to my surprise, my name was called and I was presented with a special badge … as a Boys Brigade ‘Friend’. I was so chuffed. I couldn’t wait to get into the car to rip open the envelope and hold it in my hands. But it’s not about the piece of metal … it never is, is it? It’s about being called a ‘friend’.

Because friendship isn’t about duty…something you do because of who you are – the family you were born into. But it’s about choice – where you want to be and who you want to spend time with. I know I want to be a friend to the Boys brigade – members and leaders – but it’s warming to feel that they welcome me and the feeling is reciprocal.

What a friend we have in Jesus …. At least …. He wants to be our friend so much…. Do we want to be his?  Do we go to Him and rave on about the good things in our day? Do we run to Him with our upsets and concerns?

Would we deserve a ‘Friend of Jesus’ badge? He chooses to be Your friend always; do You choose to be his?