Meet My New Best Friend

A few years back my family and I went to Disney World Florida. While there, I got the urge to audition for American Idol. I felt the stage was calling me. I made it through the first audition and so the lady referred me to the producer. Within just a few minutes of seeing me perform Gloria Estefan’s 1-2-3 complete with dance and facial expressions on his monitor, the producer exclaimed, “You are wonderful. You ( pause, followed by four exclamation marks) are my new best friend!” as he held his arms in the air as if he won the Fantasy 5 accompanied by a big grin on his face. To cut the long story short, I made it on stage with two other contestants. Although I did not win that round, the words of the producer stuck with me like bubble gum under the table. So, whenever an opportunity comes up and the setting is right, I’d like to be able to say it with as much gusto as he did. Last Thursday, June 26 was the opportune time. I received the results of my laboratory test. It said:

Dear Sherrilyn:
Below are the results from your recent visit. You are “pre-diabetic” which is the probable reason for the dizziness. Please make an apt to discuss treatment, diet and exercise.

My Estimated Average Glucose (all written in capital letters in the report to alarm me further) was somewhat elevated at 117. I also experienced gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my son, Roy (or RJ). When I had gestational diabetes, I kept peanut butter crackers on top of my desk at work. I had it in between talking to customers. I would say to the customer on the other line “Can you hold please?” then quickly munch on peanut butter crackers to appease my hungry growing belly. I never got out of the house without it. So after reading those first lines and seeing my blood sugar level, I immediately remembered the time when PB was my best friend (or best food) at work. So holding on to the report in my hand, I said loud and clear with expression reminiscent of that producer’s voice in my head, “Peanut butter is my new best friend!” Unknowingly, my 11-year-old son was listening. He quickly corrected me “Mom, Jesus is your best friend, not the peanut butter. First is Jesus, second is Dad, third is me, fourth is you, then fifth is the peanut butter.” “Bulls eye.” I thought to myself “Sometimes, he makes more sense than I do.” Of course, I meant it in a silly way, but he took it seriously. Jesus is indeed our best friend in the truest sense of the word and I know that he wants to make sure that my head and my heart are straight on that. “Oh yes, you are right anak (affectionate way of saying child in Filipino). Mom, made a mistake.” Sometimes, I let my son win. Because when it comes to Jesus, I want him to know that I am with him a hundred percent.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
(Proverbs 22: 6 ESV)

No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father, I have made known to you.
(John 15:15 NASB)