This picture is precious to me, not only because my younger brother David is there, but also because of my dog “Pal”. It’s the only one I have ever seen of him and when I was young he was the best friend I had. Times were very hard in those days and it was very, very good to have a “best friend”. He was always there when I needed him and his friendship reminds me of the following Bible passage:
1Sa 19:1 Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David.
1Sa 19:2 Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeks to kill you: now therefore, please take care of yourself in the morning, and live in a secret place, and hide yourself:
1Sa 19:3 and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will talk with my father about you; and if I see anything, I will tell you.
1Sa 19:4 Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, Don't let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you:
1Sa 19:5 for he put his life in his hand, and struck the Philistine, and Yahweh worked a great victory for all Israel: you saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?
1Sa 19:6 Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan: and Saul swore, As Yahweh lives, he shall not be put to death.
1Sa 19:7 Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as before. WEB
Everything in the picture has changed, but the memory of Pal remains. Jesus became my best friend over the years and unlike Jonathan he is still interceding for me with the Greatest KING. Now, that is a friend!