You Will Get Wet On This Ride

Friendships are so important and true friends are really hard to find, especially ones that last a lifetime. We have friends who come and go – friends who are there for you in the good times, but as soon as things get unpleasant or complicated those “friends” disappear.

Reid has been our friend forever; through both the good and bad times! He was friends with my husband long before I came into the picture and has remained a dear friend all of our lives.

He’s always had such a sweet spirit and just so funny; always trying to make us laugh. Ever the jokester, he was always trying to get others to laugh and bring some joy. And we have had many laughs with him over the years and we pray we have many more.

I remember on one occasion we were at church preparing for the evening Christmas service when Reid showed up unexpectedly. David and I were quite involved with the preparations and Reid decided to entertain our son while we were doing so. John, our, then, 3-year-old son, is handicapped, and at that particular time, he had not begun to walk yet; so, he had to be carried everywhere.

Reid had picked John up and put him on his shoulders and had begun to hop up and down to make John laugh. John was just howling with laughter because he thought Reid was the funniest person he had ever met.

David, my husband, said, “Reid, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

Reid just ignored David as usual and kept jumping up and down. And, John just laughed and laughed louder and louder!

“Reid,” David said, “I REALLY don’t think you should be doing that.”

And, as usual, he didn’t pay any attention to David!

Then, all of a sudden, Reid stopped.

He looked at David, his eyes wide with disbelief!

“Uh-ooohhh,” Reid said. “There is something very warm running down my back!”

David and I burst out laughing.

David said, “I told you NOT to do that, Reid. Now, see what you have caused?!”

Reid grabbed John and set him on the floor!

“Oh, no!” Reid exclaimed. “He just wet all over my brand-new shirt!”

“Well,” David said, “You should have listened. I told you not to do that.”

I guess it wasn’t bad enough that John wet all over Reid...but he was wearing a brand-new brown velour shirt that he’d just gotten for Christmas! So much for that new shirt!!!

Even after all of that, we are still very good friends and when we get together, we all still laugh about that “memorable” day and many others.

“Keep smiling, keep shining,

Knowing you can always count on me, for sure.

That’s what friends are for.

For good times and bad times.

I’ll be on your side forever more.

That’s what FRIENDS ARE FOR!”

~ Jeannie Joyner