When I 1st met Saralyn Morgan the thing that impressed me the most was seeing how she knew Jesus as Savior, Lord and Friend. I was aware of the Savior and Lord part but I had no idea you could know Him as a Friend. As a 17 year old young man I remember asking God that I could, one day, know Him as my Friend, the same way Saralyn did. 

In August of 2014, 2 months after Saralyn died, everyday I would pace in a circle around my living room and weep. I called these walks my "Trail of Tears." At times I cried so hard that I had to lay down on the floor to catch my breath. It was the most intense pain I had ever experience in my life. There were times I actually wondered if I was going to die from a broken heart. 

One day, after a "trail of tears" walk, I went into the bathroom to wash my face and cool off. I was horrified when I saw myself in the mirror. The hair on my forehead was matted down with perspiration, my eyes were red, wet and almost swollen shut. There were flakes of tissue all over my face and white salt rings on my shirt from sweat. My grief was literally pouring out of me. 

I was so embarrassed that I said, "Dear Jesus, I am SO sorry for the way I look. I am a child of God and I shouldn't look so sad and helpless. I guess I don't have as much faith as I thought I did." At that time I could feel His presence with me as He said, "There's no need to apologize. In fact, I've never seen you look more wonderful than you do right now." Stunned, I blurted out, "Wonderful? Wonderful? I look hideous. How can You say I look wonderful?"

Jesus answered, "Russ, you look wonderful because you are hurting so bad, yet you've stayed with Me, you haven't turned your back on Me and you are still loving and praising Me." Then, He did something I will never forget when I felt His Spirit put His hand on my shoulder and say, "I am so proud of you, Russ, MY FRIEND!"

The prayer I had prayed 45 years earlier was answered. I finally knew Jesus as my Savior, Lord and FRIEND!!! All I can say is What a Friend we have in Jesus.