Blog 3570 – 08.14.2025

“The Best Friend I Ever Had”

My lovely and loving sister-in-law posted today’s picture quote on Facebook today and I found it quite inspiring. Twenty-five years ago my beloved but chronically depressed mother took her own life and ended her unbearable suffering. Some may judge her for that, I do not nor does our loving and infinite source.

I recall a supervisor that I had as a young man announcing to the crew that one of our work mates would be off work a few days to bury his mom. The supervisor’s words have stayed with me: “He just lost the best friend he’ll ever have.”

My momma loved me and my eighteen months younger brother fiercely as any momma bear ever loved and protected her cubs. I never doubted her love. I may not always have agreed with her, but I knew she love me and always wanted only the highest and best for me.

I recall in Junior High when our Bible Class teacher (Yes, in 1963 Chattanooga, public schools were allowed to teach Bible although the teaching was supposed to be strictly non-denominational though other faiths than Christian were not considered) our Bible teacher, obviously Baptist, read that Jesus said that if anyone wanted to be his disciples that they must hate their mother and father, I remember thinking “Blank that, I could never ever hate my mother.” Years later a less dogmatic professor in Bible College explained that Jesus had meant “love less” not “hate” as the King James Version had translated the quote. Still, I found the comment suspect for I guess I never really believed the song lyric “There is not a friend like Jesus” for I had a friend from birth who loved me like no other.

Wise little Judy’s answer to her mother’s question, “Why do you love me?” comes to mind: “I love you, Momma, because you loved me when I was too little to love you back. A mother’s love is unconditional – the truest love of all. The book and movie The Shack’s portrayal of God as both a Momma and a Father is to me more correct than a patriarchal-only vision of our loving and infinite source.

I thank my momma and all you mommas for teaching me that.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David James White