A poem about a special friend

Reunion for First Grade Friends By larry r Linville We started first grade together at a small one room country school. Both at such a tender young age today you’d say each was a fool. In December a bright star shone in the skies each night after dark which the teacher said was the star that over the manger did park. I became very excited but was shocked Joe didn’t believe. I gave a Bible comic book to Donnie Joe for Christmas Eve. A year later my family moved and we each went separate ways. He spent his life as a truck driver and as a preacher I gave God praise. I often wondered if he believed but I figured I’d never know. I didn’t know he met a girl and at her church his faith would grow. I received a message from Joe inviting me to visit him at his room in the hospital where his illness was very grim. We talked about so many things and he gave a special look as he said words that touched my heart telling me he still had that book. I went back to his room today as the old men we were teary eyed. While I spoke words holding water and Donald Joseph was baptized. Sixty three years ago these boys would never have guessed this day could bring such a blessing to both leaving them without words to say. He could have done this years ago but it wouldn’t have been the same for some other humble preacher to speak his special Christian name.