Out-of-the-Woodwork

When big events happen in families, like weddings or funerals, I’ve heard it said, “Wow! That really brought relatives and friends out-of-the-woodwork that I had not seen in years.”

It is also amazing the people that come out-of-the-woodwork to attend church services on Easter Sunday, Christmas Sunday, or when the church is having a food fellowship.

Other times people come-out-of-the-woodwork is to befriend those with money. Obviously I don’t have that problem, but I have known people over the years that have had “false” friends because of their wealth. If they had lost their money, (and some have), they would have lost their friends.

I have also had people pretend to be my best friend when they accidentally walked by me somewhere in life, but otherwise, they would never purposely spend quality time with me in life. However, when I die, they would probably be the first through the condolence line to express to my husband, “She was such a nice lady.” Meanwhile my husband would be thinking, “If you sincerely thought that, why didn’t you ever talk with her or do things with her?” If too many people read this, I might now have less people at my funeral. “Oh well, does it really matter?”

Anyway, this is not a pity party for me. It is to state a truth that we all know is just a fact of life. However, recently I saw it happened to someone of great importance in the Bible. I was studying Job and it happened to him. “Yes, Job.” Many friends and family came out-of-the-woodwork after Job prayed for his friends and God restored things.

Job 42:10 “…the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
Job 42:11 “Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.”

Job knew their hearts. He knew they were only back because his health and wealth were restored. Previously, when all was gone, Job knew they had departed from his life.

Job 19:14 “My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.”

Where were all these people when Job lost his health and his wealth? When Job lost his sons and daughters? When all was lost? I will tell you where they went. They vanished! All gone! However, if Job had died, they would have all came to the funeral to pay their respects to his wife. Job’s funeral would have had many people come-out-of-the-woodwork to attend.

Proverbs 14:20 “The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.”

Please let this be an encouragement today. Look at your life this new year of 2021. Now that we can get out some and visit friends and family – do it! Get out and visit with people you have not visited with in a while. Some of us are still limited because of Covid, but we can all make phone calls and write notes and cards to people. A phone call could be just the thing to cheer up a depressed friend.  If you can, have someone over for dinner or go out to lunch with a friend that you haven’t seen in a while.

Don’t let it be said of you, when you attend a funeral, “Wow, we hadn’t seen that person in years.” Let it be said of you, “We are so glad that person came, they were such a true friend and encourager to the deceased in their life.”

Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day…”

We all may not be able to befriend someone every day, but we can all make an effort weekly or even monthly to befriend someone. Do not wait for a funeral and wish you had spent more time with that person or family member. Do not be the kind of person Job mentions.

Job 19:14 “My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.”

What if you take the effort to visit a friend and they die the following week? You will be so thankful you took the time to spend with that special person. That special time will always be with you and you will be so thankful for that special memory.

The above scenario happened to me in 2020. We semi came out of lockdown and I made an effort to go visit a dear friend of mine. Then we went back into lockdown and my friend passed away and I could not see her during her last days or even say “Goodbye.” However, I have been so thankful to have spent that special afternoon with her just a few weeks before she passed. I still remember pulling out of her driveway and telling a friend, who had come with me, “Look out the car window, she always waves when I leave.” My friend in the car looked up and waved to our friend in the house. I will never forget that special, last moment with a dear friend whom I will see again someday. I am so glad at her funeral it could not be said of me, “Here comes Kim, we had not seen her in years.”

In 2021, be a real friend or family member. Be there for your friend. Go places with friends and family members. Be there when your friend has problems and good times. Be there when your family members are sick or healthy. Be there for others. This is an encouragement not to be an out-of-the-woodwork friend or family member.

Proverbs 18:24 “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

Note: After reading this, if you wish to leave a comment, scroll all the way to the bottom past my photo and other links to articles and you will see a place to leave a message. Thanks and Happy New Year.