Fair-Weather Friends

    by Alan Smith

       

    Editor's Note: Well, we've moved from August to September in Texas. We're now happy to have our high temperatures down to 92-93 degrees each day. It won't be long until our highs are in the 80's! So here's a look back at where we've been and another reason why we're glad for a change in seasons!

        The following piece came to me (author unknown) with Texas mentioned, but after moving from the mountains of Boone to middle Tennessee and temperatures in August much higher than I'm used to, I'm tempted to change the state!

        You know you're in Texas when:

    1. You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.
    2. You can say 110 degrees without fainting.
    3. You can make instant sun tea.
    4. You learn that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.
    5. The temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.
    6. You discover that in August, it takes only two fingers to drive your car.
    7. You discover that you can get a sunburn through your car window.
    8. You notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
    9. Hot water now comes out of both taps.
    10. It's noon in August, kids are on summer vacation, and not one person is out on the streets.
    11. You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
    12. You break a sweat the instant you step outside...at 7:30 a.m. before work.
    13. Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"
    14. You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

        Now that's hot! I found interesting the similarity between the first line above and Job's description of an unfaithful friend (and he spoke from experience):

    "But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow, but that cease to flow in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels." (Job 6:15-17, NIV)

        "Fair-weather friends" are like those dry rivers in Texas. Sometimes they're there, and sometimes they're not. In fact, they're not there during the times when they are most needed.

        None of us like to have fair-weather friends, and we need to make sure that we aren't that kind of friend. May God help us to be true friends to those around us, especially in their times of need. Is there anyone around you who especially needs a friend today?

    Posted: 09/20/2002
    URL: http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200209/20020920_friends.html

    (c) 2002 Alan Smith <Alan.Smith@whcoc.com>. Used by permission. This devotional was reprinted from "Thought for the Day." <http://www.TFTD-online.com>

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