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“Fred always considered it a life-altering relationship, a “liberating friendship.” By the time he was a senior, he was president of the student council and editor of the yearbook, “largely because I had somebody who believed in me and wasn’t afraid to say so.”

The above except is from the book by Tim Madigan, “I’m Proud of You,” chronicling his friendship with Fred Rogers, that began through his role as a newspaper reporter and evolved into a deep, loving friendship of mentor and student and men sharpening one another in life.

As I sat enjoying a too-seldom breakfast with my friend and brother-in-Christ, Adam, he was sitting patiently listening to my diatribe about the state of the economy, politics, traffic, etc., he slowly slid a book across the Nick & J’s booth with the title “I’m Proud of You.”

About 11 years ago God gifted me with a friend who could not have been more different than me with one key exception, a uniquely bizarre and awesome sense of humor, with the ability to find laughter and ‘lightness’ in most situations. A brother in Christ who was not a type-A personality like me, but a bother in Christ. A friend who over the coming years would teach me about humbleness, humility, care, love, genuine friendship, concern, hunger for Christ and righteousness, A brother from another mother, with completely different yet completing personality traits who would slowly, patiently, lovingly deliver in me a desire to change, to really change, to genuinely love, care, invest, surrender my time and energy to our Father in Heaven and to the wonderful people God would bring through my path. An extraordinary introvert who gifted me with his time and his endless friendship.

“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” Proverbs 27:9

So, during this morning breakfast and through all the busyness of life, my friend Adam slid this book across the table to me. He said that “I thought of you when I read this book.” The emotion of the moment went back to a breakfast we had had months before (maybe years before) when I had commented to Adam that my father had never told me that he was proud of me. (Something that is incredibly important for every father to say with conviction to his daughters and sons.) As I read the book title, I again started to tell Adam that my father had never said these words to me and with eyes of love and care, Adam said, “I know and want you to know that I am proud of you.”

My gratitude to Adam was and is his amazing ability to listen, genuinely listen to the words being spoken by those who need ears that hear. What a gift. A gift confirmed by the gift of a book that addresses the very void in life that was cautiously and confidentially shared through the safety of being okay to be vulnerable and transparent with my friend. As an aside, my father is one of my best friends and an amazing man who loves me without condition and affirms his pride in me through decades of prayer as I wandered and never-ceasing encouragement to me as a son, a husband, a father and most importantly, a brother in Christ.

Affirming words are the never ending food for our soul. We are affirmed through scripture: “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.” 1 John 3:1.

The opening paragraph in this post were the words of Fred Rogers discussing his lifelong friend, Jim Stumbaugh, who as a star athlete, honor student and president of his class, became friends with Fred due to an injury suffered while playing football and Fred bringing his schoolwork to him at the hospital. Jim affirmed in Fred who God created Fred to be all along. The result was a man confident in who he was and literally millions of children who found hope, love and joy through a gentle, skinny, meek man made bold and purposeful by the affirmations of a friend to become an exceptional leader with a servants heart.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

My hope and prayer for you is that God brings your “Fred Rogers” into your life. Adam is mine and is a priceless gift that cannot be adequately described. My prayer is that what you don’t immediately see, God will reveal in marvelous and profoundly empowering ways to the benefit of all destined for your path.

Adam, my friend and brother, I love you. You sharpen me in the gentlest of ways.

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17