Show yourself.

by Craig Emerson Strain.

When I was 18 years old, I left the flat farmland of Indiana to go to college in Florida. Leaving behind friends, family, and everything familiar to me and traveling the 1,100 miles. It was quite a challenge.

I shared an apartment with a friend of the family the first year at school. He was the only person that I knew. We both had classes at the school, but at different times. To say I grew lonely would be an understatement.

I accidentally tore one of my contact lenses, so I just didn't put the other one in. I could see ok to drive and study, but I couldn't see faces. That wasn't a problem, because I was surrounded by faceless people that I didn't know anyway.

I did know my roommate though, so when I would pass from one class to another, I would keep an eye out for him. I would think that I saw him, so I would holler for him, but as I got closer, it wasn't him. Well, I would just go a head and ask the person "what class did you come from?" and "how did it go?", or what ever. I felt like an idiot for stopping a person that I didn't even know.

Know, your probably wondering, "what's the point, Craig?" Well here it is. By the end of the first year of school, I had inadvertently stopped many different people and struck up conversation. Little by little I got to know lots of people. When the year was up and the school yearbook came out, I was voted the "Most Popular Student on Campus"!

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Prov 18:24

I didn't know the Bible back then. I wasn't even a Christian back then. But the Bible is the Word of God and it is always correct.

But let me ask you this, do you show yourself friendly? There are so many people around you that need a friend. They need your friendship. Show yourself friendly.

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: Jude 20-23

Be a friend to someone you don't know. Make a difference in someone's life.

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