THE MOST WONDERFUL FRIEND IN THE WHOLE UNIVERSE
Sakkie Parsons
I would like to share with you the special race I did on May 17, 2025, with my regular guide, Marix Venter.
It was a league race, and we ran the 10-kilometer event. For me, it was, first of all, such a joy to know that I could earn points for my club.
As always, Marix did a great job guiding me—especially through the crowds.
She also led me so carefully over all the bumps, around the potholes, and through the water stations.
After the race, someone asked me:
“You say Marix is a good guide.
What makes someone a good guide?”
I can summarize the answer in one sentence:
It’s someone with a Jesus-like attitude.
If your guide has the attitude of Jesus, then all the other qualities that make a good guide for someone who is blind just naturally fall into place.
Speaking of Jesus’ attitude—
I’m proud to say I’m a member of the Agape Club, and our motto is:
“Run for the Son.”
I sat outside our tent before and especially after the race, listening to how kindly and warmly all the members of our club spoke to each other—regardless of race or color.
I had just spoken about how a good guide in a race like this should have a Christlike heart, and then I noticed how friendly everyone around me was, and it reminded me again—
The Word says this about the attitude and kindness we should have when the Holy Spirit of Jesus lives in us:
Galatians 5:22–23
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
With this in mind, it’s encouraging to know that as we bear the fruit of the Spirit, people will notice it in how we treat them.
And even more amazing is this—part of my circle of friends includes the greatest Friend in the entire universe, who made Himself part of my friend group.
It is Jesus who says:
John 15:13–15
13 No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.
14 You are My friends if you keep on doing what I command you.
15 I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father.
(Now we must live this out.)
Jesus—who wants to be our Friend—also says we shouldn’t live in fear, even in these uncertain times:
Luke 12:4–5
4 “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do.
5 But I will point out to you whom you should fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority and power to hurl [you] into hell; yes, I say to you, stand in great awe of God and fear Him!”
And to you—His friend, child, and follower—He also says:
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.”
Let’s remember: Jesus never promised that His friends, children, and followers would have a life filled with only sunshine and roses in this world—but He did give us this assurance. And that is always my comfort, no matter what I face:
Romans 8:28
And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
How amazing!
Jesus is not only your Friend and mine—
We are also children of our Lord.
So let people see His family likeness in and through us.
And the starting point is this:
Philippians 4:4–5
4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.
Now I’d like to end this thought from the Word by asking you to pause for just a moment—and think again about how much our Lord loves you.
Read once more this well-known passage from Scripture:
John 3:16
For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world (that includes you), that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Just think about it:
When Almighty God had to choose who should live and not suffer for your sin—His Son or you—He chose you.
When Jesus had to choose between His throne in heaven or the cross of Golgotha, so that you could spend eternity with Him in heaven—He chose the cross.
With greetings in Jesus’ love—keep running your race,
Sakkie