We always had a great time on vacation! We spent a week with my grandparents in Virginia, went to the beach two or three times, and had a great time with our cousins. We always loved our vacations. The long road trip from Mississippi to Virginia was never boring. No way. For us, it was quality family time.
We were on our way home. We had been on the road for two or three hours and Dad decided to take the Blue Ridge Parkway. We didn’t usually go that way, but it is a beautiful route through the mountains. We traveled on the Blue Ridge for a while and then needed to stop.
When it was time to get on the road, my Dad was about to get on the Parkway again. My youngest brother told him, “Dad, I think you just went the wrong way.” But John was only about ten or so and Dad was really good with directions. He was sure he went the right way. His reply to John was something like, “Son, we’re going the right way.”
Some time later Dad realized John was right and he was not. As we found a place to turn around, Dad apologized to my brother. I always respected him for that. He was a grown man who had the humility to admit he was wrong and apologize to my brother. I hope I never forget that day because it told me a lot about Dad's character - about the kind of man he was!
Even as Christians, we can get mixed up and go the wrong way for a while. We get to a place in our lives, and we don’t know what to do or which way to go. That’s when having good and faithful Christian friends is so important. We need someone to hold us accountable – to speak up and say “Hey, I think you went the wrong way on that situation” or “Are you sure you want to do that?”
We all need folks in our lives who care enough about us to keep us on the right track – or get us back on track. James, the brother of our Lord, tells us “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20)
If you have friends like this, thank God for them! They love your soul enough to help you keep from going the wrong way. What a treasure it is to have a friend like that!
The best thing we can do for our brothers and sisters in Christ is to be a friend like that. It is absolutely the best kind of friend to be.
Christ above all things – Robin
