My Friend Jesus

By Barbara McCain

Aug. 1973

All my friends are gone today and there is no one to play with at all.  Billy went to his neighbor’s house.  Jimmy went to the store with his mother.  Johnny had to go to the doctor’s office.

Even my big brother isn’t home.  He’s riding his bicycle, and my baby sister is asleep.  It can be very lonely when there are no friends around.

I think I’ll look for Mommy.  There she is, sitting in the big chair, reading from the Bible.  That makes me remember something Mommy told me - Jesus is my friend, too.

If Jesus is my friend, He might want to play with me!  I wonder where He is?  I know He isn’t in my bedroom because I didn’t see anybody there.  Maybe He is outside.  I’ll ask Mommy.

Mommy says, "You can’t see Jesus with your eyes, but He is everywhere, all the time."

"Outside even?"

"Yes, dear, outside even."

I still can’t see anybody outside, but if Mommy says Jesus is here, He must be.

Sometimes at night I can’t see my brother, but if I reach out my hand I can feel that he’s there.  Maybe I can feel Jesus!  If I just stretch out both of my hands far enough — but all I feel is the warm sunshine and the wind going through my fingers.

Maybe if I stand very still and listen very quietly, I can hear Jesus — but all I hear are the birds singing and the wind blowing.

Is he behind that tree?  No — nobody is there.

Where is Jesus?  I know that I looked hard enough.  Mommy said He was everywhere.  Does that mean all around me and right beside me?  I think I know now, Jesus has been here all the time.  I did feel Him, I did hear Him, and I did see Him.

You know what?  I am not so lonely any more.  I’m going to talk to my Friend Jesus, because friends are fun to talk to.  And you know what I’m going to say to my Friend Jesus?

"Thank you, Jesus, for being right here beside me.  I love You."