Short Stories

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He Was My Best Friend


Although not considered a manly word, beautiful, is the only word that I can think of to aptly describe him. It wasn’t his physical appearance, as age had yielded its unmistakable mark upon him and, time itself, had drawn and stamped its map across his face, with valleys and crevices deeply engraved. Yet, his eyes sparkled more brilliantly than any gem, danced to an upbeat and lively song of their own, and had the magical ability to enchant even the most miserable and cynical. His smile had an exquisite expression that crookedly spread widely from one prominent, lopsided ear to the other, exposing broken and missing teeth, yet, bedazzling, luminous and contagious. Personally, I always believed that his inner spirit was so strong, so full of joyous life, that it could not be contained within, bursting through with its own sheer will and celebration.

His large, oversized, rough, calloused hands somehow possessed a gentle, delicate, almost whispering a feather like touch. When touched by his hands, one was immediately flooded with a sensation of a soothing, healing warmth flooding through their entire being. His touch seemed to renew and rejuvenate the soul of any one fortunate to receive it. Yet, soft as his touch was, it was contrary and two-folded, as it also conveyed an unmistakable, untouchable and powerful silent strength.Although age had slowed his steps to a slow and halting gait, it could not reclaim the purposefulness and fortitude of his walk. Somehow, his walk would play tricks with ones eyes and mind, giving an illusion of a spring, a little bounce to his lumbering steps.

Uneducated according to the worlds standards, he emitted unmistakable, vast, untouchable wisdom and knowledge. He was a living, walking textbook himself, having lived through the experiences and changes of time that one could only glimpse in the history books. When he spoke of the past, his words painted vivid pictures, images and details into ones mind, creating a sense of actually having been there and experiencing it first hand. The rest, he deemed as good old common sense and guidance from the Holy Bible. “Anything you need to know is answered right there in that Book-it has the solution to everything” he would adamantly and confidently state. “Read that Book, the letters from Yahweh, Our God Himself, study it and apply its teachings to your life, it will never misguide you, steer you wrong or get you lost”.

Although not rich materialistically, he was unarguably the wealthiest person that I have ever had the privilege and pleasure to know. His wealth was in his application to life, and the insights he cultured in me concerning life were definitely, unmistakably and utterly the most profound, lasting and valuable gift that any person could ever receive. He relished life as priceless, a gift from Yah that is to be respected and revered, not mocked, laughed at or sneered at. He showed me how one can learn and benefit from conversing and listening to the wisdom endowed to the aged and elderly. He revealed how meekness, gentleness and uncompromising love and respect for all of Yahwehs creations and creatures, large or small, inanimate or animate, could maintain harmony and prevail over any convolution and discord. He educated me on anger and self-control, how I was responsible for my own actions and reactions, and that no one could make me angry unless I allowed them to, that it was I who had the power over my emotions. He gave me the understanding of how anger and bitterness only hurt me, not the other person, for that person was still going about their way and life happily, while I suffered the consequences of my anger and bitterness, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. He encouraged me to apologize, even if I felt that I was justified or in the right, declaring that it was not a sign of weakness, but of an inner quality and strength that would always prevail with its own healing power. He impressed upon me the importance of not placing value or undo importance upon material things or possessions, as they could always be destroyed or lost, but rather first upon Yahweh, then other people and relationships. He drilled into me that although it was only natural to desire belongings, that the key to a happy and successful life was not to dwell on your lacks and what you didn’t have, but to be thankful for and appreciate what you did have. He reflected that the most important thing one left behind when they perished from this earth was not what one possessed materially, but rather, their actions, deeds and what a person did in regards to others and the impact that one left upon the lives of others. He educated me on the meaning of giving from the heart unselfishly, to share what I had with those who were in need. Once I wanted to buy a new bicycle, not that anything was wrong with the one that I already had, but this one was newer, more fashionable. At the same time, I knew of a child who was in dire need of new shoes that his struggling parents could not afford to provide. I came up with what I though an ideal solution, to give my old bike to the kid. However, he would not allow me to deceive myself. “What does your conscience say? What does that little boy need the worst, what would he benefit from the most, new shoes or a bike?” he questioned me. Ultimately, the kid not only ended up with new shoes, but also with an entire, much needed, new wardrobe. Compliments of an unsigned gift certificate from a local clothing store delivered through the mail with no return address. My old bike served me well for many more years, and eventually I did get a new bike, and yes, ended up still giving my old bike to that other kid. However, I cannot say I gave it to him per say, but, that the boy actually worked for it and earned it. Among his teachings to me, he had stressed the importance of allowing others to maintain their dignity and pride and not to have to feel a sense of debt or obligation. So, I had the kid help me mow and rake yards for a day for payment of the bike. By that time, the boy was old enough and had the initiative and incentive to use the bike to get a paper route and start earning a little extra money for himself and his family. He taught me that there is a difference between a helping hand, a hand-out and a hand up, and to never allow myself to become a crutch to someone, but rather to encourage and help one stand upon their own two feet. He illustrated to me the true meaning of forgiveness and how it works. “Take an example from Yahweh and Yahshua-do you think we merit forgiveness, do you honestly believe that is was because mankind was so deserving that Yahshua died, beaten, naked and scorned, nailed to a tree just so that we could have ever lasting life and not pay the penalty for our sins? Do you think that we earn forgiveness or is it given through unconditional love and grace? Do you think that once they have forgiven you that they will later on remind you of what mistake you have made or do you think that the deed is forgotten and the slate erased clean? Do you presume Our Father sets restrictions to how many times we are forgiven?” he asked. He enunciated the significance of praise. “You get farther through praise than you do with grumbling, moaning and whining, and that applies in regards to Our Holy Father as well as other people. If you spend more time and effort in criticizing and complaining about a person, relationship or situation than you do praising, eventually, you will cause that person or situation to react negatively, and too, you also begin to lose sight of the positive and good qualities and start seeing nothing but the bad”, he reasoned. He underlined my vital role in any circumstance and situation. “Never just make the best of any situation or circumstance, but instead, do your best. If you just make the best of anything, you simply drift and coast along with no desirable or satisfactory results. On the other hand, when you do your best, you make things change, even if it is just your own attitude, you make things happen and in the end, you feel good about your efforts and the outcome” he advocated. He deeply implanted in me the value and utmost importance of reading the Bible and spending time in meditation of Yahs Word and in prayer. “You develop lasting relationships with others by getting to know them, understanding them, spending time with them and maintaining the relationship. If you abuse and or neglect that relationship, it will suffer and deteriorate. The same concept hold true with Our God” he intensely accentuated innumerable times.

He taught me to love unconditionally, that love knows no boundaries, including background, social standing, gender, race or age. Basically, pure, unadulterated love has no barriers or fences or set conditions: it is given freely from the heart and soul.

Despite the vast differences in our background and age, I loved him and he was my best friend.

Kathleen Ann Shelton

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