Even Your Father’s Friend

“Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend.” Proverbs 27:10 (NKJV) “Are you two old guys done with your coffee and ready to call it a morning?” Smiling, Ronald approaches a table in the Sippin’ Good Coffee Shop. Bob, his father, glances up at him with fondness. “Nothing better to do, son. Me and Greg here go all the way back to kindergarten!” Ronald scoots a chair forward and sits next to his father. “And I’m sure you two recap every adventure from then till now.” “Yep,” Greg, his father’s friend, replies. “And we enjoy reliving each one of ’em! Like the time your dad and I decided to skip school and ...” Ronald holds up a hand. “I know, the truant officer spotted you, drove you to the school and marched you straight to the principal’s office.” The two elders’ bellowing laughs fi ll the small coffee shop. A waitress comes to their table. “More coffee?” she asks. Bob holds up a hand. “No, thank you, Miss. Just the tab.” “I got that,” Ronald says as he grabs his wallet. “One thing, though, Pop. You still planning to take the train to Sanford to see your Aunt Lucille? How old is she now . . . 90-something?” “Yep, the only elder I got left.” “I have one younger brother, but he’s up in New York,” Greg says. After seeing his father off, Ronald returns home. The news warns that a freak storm is headed their way! He rushes outside and pulls down his shutters. Then he remembers Greg. He hops into his truck and finds his father’s old friend trying to hammer plywood over his windows. “Hey, I got that!” Ronald calls out. Greg smiles and wipes his brow. “Whew! Thank you! You’re a godsend, son. Right on time!” “Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away” Proverbs 27:10 (NKJV). Our Father in heaven, help us each to always have the heart of a servant. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. — Kiki BelMonte-Schaller   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org