I want to share a story of how my life was changed and turned in a different direction because of a true friend. Some friends are for a moment, some for a season, and some for a lifetime. Some friends sap strength, some betray, some fill ‘er up, and some rescue. My dear childhood friend Alane is the heroine of my story. She was a rescue agent! I grew up in a religious home with a dad who was a theological professor and we were at church every Sunday. Alane and I were note-takers in sermons, harmony singers during hymn sings, and almost always at each other’s houses on Sundays. Good friendly pals. But something, about the age of thirteen, pulled me away. I didn’t feel spiritual strength to withstand the pull. I got pulled into all the “no-no’s” and just couldn’t resist. Alane had another friend, Deb, that she had introduced me to. We had done some things together as a three-some. In my downward spiral, I distanced myself from Alane, and took her friend Deb from her, only caring about myself, boys and what I wanted. I brought a Ouija board over to Deb’s house to have some fun. What was it that pulled me downward? Alane could have hated me with reason and taken revenge. Many friends would do that. But Alane, instead, felt something was really wrong in my life and she cared. She prayed for me. She went to our youth pastor and shared her concern. She prayed with the youth pastor for me. She forgave me without me asking to be forgiven! And because of Alane prayers, the spiritual forces of good, in the power of Jesus, battled for my heart and won! At a youth camp, I came forward at an altar call to “come back home”. I repented and said I had not been happy being away from Jesus. The next morning I opened my Bible and read, I read Romans 7 and Romans 8. Romans 7 talks about the trying to live a religious life and the pull to do the negative. Romans 8 talks about the only way life can have power to resist the pull–through the Spirit of God. I knew God was talking to me and telling me what had happened to me and giving me answers and solutions. But just last week, fifty years later, God opened my eyes to the true heroine of my story–my friend Alane! What a friend! Everyone needs a friend like Alane and to be a friend like Alane!

I Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.

Prov. 17:17 A friend loves at all times.

Matthew 18:21,22 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

Epilogue: Years later I had a chance to apologize to Alane, even though it was very evident that she had forgiven me. She said that things had worked out for good. After I had dropped her as a friend, she found another very special friend, Nansie, and that friendship turned out to be a lifelong friendship for her.

Friendship Forgiveness Religion Repent Spiritual