p. 62 | Friends Who Refresh Us

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 15, 1914

Friends Who Refresh Us

It would be hard to tell why we have chosen some of our friends. There are many traits we admire and should like to have in our friends. But by no means the least desirable is the power to refresh us.

All of us have our seasons when we need refreshing. Natures that are intense and passionate have their times of depression of which more temperate natures know little. Every man who works with enthusiasm and zeal is sure to feel the reaction. He may be misunderstood. He may be opposed by those he is trying to help. Such an attitude on the part of others is like a poison gas which chokes, and we need some one to dispel it.

There are also apparent failures, or perhaps real failures, in our work, which depress us. To put our best efforts into anything and to accomplish little, or to have some promising success spoiled by the carelessness or malice of others, is a heavy trial to our natures. There are times when things go wrong, when discouragements pile up, and then the friend we need is the friend who can refresh us!

There are some whom God seems to have specially endowed for this ministry. They may not be persons of strong character. They may not be famed for their learning or eloquence. But their coming is like the sunshine which dispels the gloom, like the pure air that revives us after we have been in some stifling atmosphere. They may remind us of some cheering promise that we have forgotten in our despair. They may tell us of some success which has come through our efforts but has not come under our notice. Perhaps we cannot at all explain how they do it. About them there is an atmosphere which acts on us like oxygen on the dying flame. The home is unfortunate that does not have at least one such person in it.

We have friends whose learning never ceases to amaze us. When there are things we do not understand, we go to them for information. We value their friendship. We have friends who are rich and influential. We know that they will help us when we get into trouble. We value their friendship. But the friend who can put the heart back into us, can make us forget our troubles and discouragements and look on the bright side of things, whose presence inspires us to be our best, that is the best friend of all.

If we appreciate what it is to have such friends, it hardly needs to be suggested that we should be such friends to one another. We all have discouragements, but it does not help us any to thrust them upon others; it only makes them gloomy. Our friends will value our friendship more highly if we try constantly to be like the sunshine, like the pure air, so that they cannot be in our company without having their spirits revived.

It is this trait that gives value to the friendship of Christ. Above all others, he is the friend that refreshes us, and we can be more and more refreshing to others as we become more and more like him.—United Presbyterian.