Apr
25
2018
Backdoor Friends
Posted in Faith 2 Comments
I heard the knock.
I knew the person who was doing the knocking.
Anyone else would have used the front door.
Not this friend; she is a backdoor kind of friend.
To be a backdoor kind of friend is a good thing.
To be able to come up onto the deck and enter my house through the kitchen door is lovely.
I am in the kitchen most of the time anyway.
If I am not cooking or baking, I am writing.
This friend knows that.
This friend can walk in my house if she chooses.
She knows that.
However, she will always knock her small knock, as if to say, It’s me!
Who else could it be?
Who else feels that comfortable?
Who else is a backdoor kind of friend?
Who else knows me that well?
My daughter’s belly is growing as her baby grows.
She is all belly.
From the back, you would never know that she is expecting a baby in a few weeks.
I am amazed at how many people touch her belly.
Family is one thing.
We are amazed at the baby’s movement.
However, other people feel as if it is perfectly fine to touch her belly.
Perhaps they feel that, by extension, they are touching the baby.
People who would never touch her stomach any other time, think it is fine to do now.
It is sweet in some ways, but a bit disconcerting in other ways.
My daughter has been extremely gracious.
She knows that her baby is already loved by so many.
I saw a little boy waiting with his mother.
He was sitting on her lap.
He was sucking his thumb.
His other hand was stroking his mother’s hair.
He had no need to carry a blanket around.
His comfort came from gently stroking his mother’s hair.
No one else could come up to her and stroke her hair in such a way.
However, her son has full access without any questions asked.
Many years ago, I taught third through fifth grade children in Sunday school.
At the end of each lesson, I always read a short devotional to them.
The devotional would coincide with the lesson.
Much like a parable, it would help to solidify a truth we were learning.
I remember one such story.
During the war between the states, a young soldier in the Union Army lost his older brother and his father in the battle of Gettysburg. The soldier decided to go to Washington, DC to see President Lincoln to ask for an exemption from military service so that he could go back and help his sister and mother with the spring planting on the farm. When he arrived in Washington, after having received a furlough from the military to go and plead his case, he went to the White House, approached the front gate and asked to see the president. The guard on duty told him, “You can’t see the president, young man! Don’t you know there’s a war going on? The president is a very busy man! Now go away, son! Get back there on the battle lines where you belong!” So the young soldier left very disheartened and was sitting on a little park bench not far from the White House when a little boy came up to him. The lad said, “Soldier, you look unhappy. What’s wrong?” The soldier looked at the little boy and began to spill his heart to him. He told of his father and his brother being killed in the war, and of the desperate situation at home. He explained that his mother and sister have no one to help them with the farm. The little boy listened and said, “I can help you, soldier.” He took the soldier by the hand and led him back to the front gate of the White House. Apparently, the guard didn’t notice them because the weren’t stopped. They walked straight to the front door of the White House and walked right in. After they got inside, they walked right past generals and high-ranking officials, and no one said a word. Finally, they reached the Oval Office – where the president was working – and the little boy didn’t even knock on the door. He just walked right in and led the soldier with him. There behind the desk was Abraham Lincoln and his Secretary of State, looking over battle plans that were laid out on the desk. The president looked at the boy and then at the soldier and said, “Good afternoon, Todd. Can you introduce me to your friend?” And Todd Lincoln, the son of the president, said, “Daddy, this soldier needs to talk to you.” The soldier pled his case before Mr. Lincoln, and right then and there, he received the exemption that he desired. (Wayne Rice)
Familiarity.
It is what allows my friend to walk in my back kitchen door.
It is what allows family and close friends to touch my daughter’s pregnant belly.
It is what allows a small child to stroke his mother’s hair.
We have familiarity with God the Father if we are in Christ.
If we have trusted in Jesus alone for our salvation, we can come to the Father freely.
We know that when we pray, we are heard.
We know that Jesus, our Advocate and Intercessor, is beside us.
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” (John 20:17)
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have access to the Father.
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God is our Father.
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God is our God.
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have familiarity.
We cannot take that familiarity for granted.
It is precious.
It is a privilege granted to those who know the Son.
Jesus takes us by the hand and brings us to the Father.
Can you introduce Me to Your friend?
Touching story I”d never heard before. Todd must have been taught well to notice people in distress; of course, nowadays we teach kids not to talk to strangers. Also, nowadays anyone in the President’s family would have secret service around them. Things have certainly changed in our society, haven’t they? So sad. But so glad to have God the Father and Jesus our elder brother as our friends. Praise the Lord!
Amen, Sue! That little story has always been special to me. I am glad it blessed you as well.
Gina