I have a friend whom I have learned so much. When it comes to life experiences he has done or seen it all. Not many have been blessed to survive. One would think that he had a death wish. He credits his mother and all of those who prayed for his change. Most everyone applauds.

I have watched him over the years change from a person bent on destruction to a person who values life as if it is a must. He used to dump salt on everything, and if he was cautioned about the dangers, he would dump even more. He has high blood pressure but takes his meds as if it was a religion. He values life.

When I was going thorough seminary, he was my go-to person. Not that I thought he was the biggest sinner in the world, but rather because I trusted that he would be truthful about what he said. He understood both sides of life. Today, I can listen to him talk for hours. Non-judgmental.

He once told me that at one time he was very much in love with someone who betrayed his trust. He never told me what she had done and I did not push him for an answer. That was the agreement that we had. I would never push him for explanations.

As a new believer of forgiveness, I asked him if he believed she had changed, and if so, could he forgive her. He said it does not matter. He said he never revived a relationship. And he quoted a scripture that he had based it on. I was impressed with his answer. This is what it said:

No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match. And you don’t put your wine in cracked bottles (Mark 2:22). I didn’t dare tell him that he was taking the scripture out of context. I understood what he meant.