General Ulyses Grant had a faithful friend and chief of staff during his war years. He was the Galena Lawyer John A. Rawlins – closer to Grant than any other during the war. Grant gave Rawlins his pledge to abstain from alcohol. When he broke that promise, Rawlins pleaded with great earnestness that Grant refrain from his addiction, for his own sake, and the nation’s great and holy cause. These words were like “wounds” from that friend.

There stands today, in front of the Capitol in Washington, a magnificent monument to General Grant, on his horse in characteristic pose and flanked on either side by stirring battle scenes. At the other end and a little to the south of Pennsylvania Avenue is Rawlins Park, where a very ordinary statue of Grant’s friend stands. One cannot help but think of this other monument when looking at Grant’s grand memorial. For, it was Rawlins, the faithful friend, who kept Grant on his horse.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses (Proverbs 27:6, NIV).

May we be faithful friends to one another and hold one another accountable.

Tags: faithfulness, Grant