What a joy it is to walk on the beach or sit on the pier these days and gaze out over the Potomac River, my ole friend. I think as I gaze what a wonderful friend it has been to me and ask myself if I have been a good friend to it. Someone said, “To have a friend, you must be a friend.” I think of all the good times my friend, the River, has provided for me as a child and as an adult. I think of all the delicious seafood it has provided for my body and all the inspiration it has provided for my soul. Even as a child, I knew I must be good to it and we were careful to pick up debris from the water or shore and build bon fires to burn it in order to keep the beach and river clean. As an adult and teacher, I tried to keep this source of livelihood for many of my family clean and productive. Joining the Chesapeake Bay Foundation provided a good link to help my ole friend and as industry, weekenders, and in recent years, the farmers, brought harm to my friend, I have tried to help. Our clean river became a dumping ground for chemicals, debris and even a septic tank for many. How it has broken our hearts to see our ole friend treated this way. As I look over it now, I pray that more people will love it as I do, will appreciate it as I do, and will strive to treat it as you would a friend.

     Friends to me are my greatest treasure next to knowing the Lord. Regardless of my circumstances, each year at Christmas I have kept in touch with several hundred of my friends throughout this Country. A number of my college roommates, suite mates, as well as friends from The Baldwin House and other places I have lived have been a great source of joy for me. Someone wrote, “Friendship is really a matter of time; the time that it takes to be kind, the time that it takes just to listen and talk, to help someone find peace of mind.” It has taken time to stay in touch with friends, but every moment has been rewarded. A few months ago as I went through their cards and letters I felt so very blessed. My roommate at college more than fifty years ago always writes a little note at the bottom of her card. Each year I had shared thoughts of her children Ted, Tim and Terri with her and her husband. This year she sent a lovely picture of herself, her husband, Tim and Terri. In her long letter, she told me that Ted had been killed enroute to his home in New Mexico in July. She knew she could reach out to me, her ole friend, for the love and comfort she needed at this time. What a joy to be able to help her and know I was here for her. Someone wrote these lines; “A friend is there before you know it, to lend a hand before you ask it and give you love just when you need it most.” It was given to me on a plaque by a couple who were grateful that “I was their friend”. 

     How about our wonderful friends of the volunteer rescue squads and fire departments. Just think of all the time, love, and dedication they give us in our hours of greatest need. In return, we appreciate and support these friends. Then we have “Friends of the Library” throughout our land so we can all be blessed with books to read. Only those who have had to call on Hospice know what kind of friends these wonderful folks are to us. As you think of it, you can add many more names.

     Do you have time to be a friend? We all have the same amount of time you know. Parents need to be good friends to their children; husbands and wives need to be each other’s best friend; a lonely neighbor needs friends. The Dead Sea cannot sustain life because it never gives of itself. I know some folks like that but praise God they are few. Jesus said ”A friend loveth at all times.” It  takes time to be a friend but it is one of the best investments you will ever make in your life. 

     It is difficult to leave my ole friend, The River, and go back to the chores and duties of the day but I will have more inspiration to be a better friend to my human friends because of my visit. I will have more zest and more gratitude in my prayers because of the joy of the morning. 

© 2001 Florence Jenkins Muse All rights