Blessing #6 - Joshua Simpson - Going the Extra Mile

Days before my last semester at college was to begin, my grandfather passed away.  My parents had divorced just months earlier, and we were having to sale our home due to my parents divorce.  Life was full of hurts, anxiety, fears, and frustrations.  In the midst of that my mother also became extremely ill, and the doctors had called a minister into the room so that we could be prepared for the worst.  And that is how the first few hours before my classes were to start off that semester.  Tired as I was, I threw myself into my studies right away.  However, relationally I had already began to prepare myself for graduation and leaving school.  I had a host of friends and starting new friendships wasn't anything I was seeking out. I simply wanted to finish my semester well, and to not allow all the chaos in my life to affect my studies & focus.  I truly enjoyed my classes that semester, one of which was Old Testament Theology. I love studying the Old Testament anyway, but throw in a good prof, and it makes it all the better.  Well it was the first week of class I met Josh!  Josh and I sat next to each other in class, and it wasn't long we found we had a similar passion and understanding of God's Word.  Nearly everyday of class, Josh and I found something to talk about.  We found each others insights into scripture, ministry, and the nature of God intriguing.  Josh knew nothing about the circumstances in my life or how hard I found it to explain where I was in life. I wasn't even I understood the circumstances around me! With Josh, it seemed liked I could find meaningful conversation without getting bogged down in the details of my life.  What I needed more than anything in my life, at that time, was exactly what God provided in my friendship with Josh.  A 50/50 friendship!  Well as the semester progressed, my family and I had sold our home (bitter sweet) and we were moving to Springdale, Arkansas (my first time to live out of State).  I was ready for a change, I was ready to have a fresh start from all the chaos.   Josh and I continued to correspond through email and phone calls.  Josh married that summer to his wonderful wife Kristie!  That fall Josh would surprise me by driving hours out of his way to spend the days after Christmas with my family and I after visiting his parents in Ohio.  This was the first time for my family to meet Josh, and my first time to meet Kristie!  Immediately, we all bonded and those few days together made my families holiday season very special!  

A little over a year later, Josh and I planned a trip to a Bible conference in Branson to hear some our  

 favorite bible teachers/scholars.  One of those people we met was Norman Geisler (which was so kind, gave us his number and invited us to take a trip out to North Carolina to stay with him and his wife).  

Also, Josh and I had the honor not only to hear Kay Arthur preach, but also to have a wonderful conversation with her.  Her testimony blew my mind.  I was already familiar with her books, teachings, and ministry.  But her testimony made an impact on our lives. David did a wonderful message on the second coming of Christ. 

As I sit here and write this, I really had to stop and laugh here.  (Josh, don't ever forget the waitress and the guy at the barbeque restaurant in Eureka Springs)!  The waitress sat at our table and told us her whole life story from beginning to end (including how they started their business, her medical bills, the inflation of food etc.  The guy on the other hand really gave Josh a hard time because he was wearing a dark fuscia shirt and said, "I don't know if I trust a man wearing pink". He also kept trying to get Josh to take food off of his plate to let me try the ribs he had just smoked!   He never let up on Josh, but I think we had a million laughs since then over that conversation! :)  The day we got back from Branson, was the day before my family and I were to move to TN.  I definitely felt I'd never see most of my college friends (except the ones that lived out that way) for  a long time.   However to my surprise, once again, Josh and Kristie made it out our home in TN during their Christmas at his parents in Ohio.  It was once again humbling that Josh and Kristie would go so far out of their way only to be able to spend 24 hours with us!  Not many friends make that kind of sacrifice, and it showed me the value of our friendship, especially at a time when I couldn't repay the favor giving him that kind of visit in return!  After we got the keys to our home here in TX, once again Josh was right there to help out, brought along a mutual friend, and helped my family unload the semi!   Josh, it's not the marks of WHAT you have done for me, but the fact that you would take the time, make the sacrifice, and go so far out of your way showing me how valuable our friendship is to you!  Josh and Kristie now have a little boy of their own, and I'm just dying to get a chance to see little Caleb Theophilus Simpson!

"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship"  - Ralph Waldo Emerson