Is it just ME, or do you, too, use the word ‘friend’ thoughtfully and with great
discern?
I remember back in my Elementary
School days (also known as Grammar School because – and here’s the funny part –
they actually taught us grammar!) when Valentines’ day came around and my Mom
would buy boxes of tiny little Valentine’s cards so that we each (of the
girls!) had enough to write one for
every one of our classmates. On
Valentine’s Day morning, classmates walked up and down the aisles of desks
placing a “?” greeting on every desk. We
wanted everyone to feel happy!
As the years piled on, it became less
cool for this tradition to continue.
Valentine’s Day greetings grew fewer and
farther between, all while we convinced each other - and ourselves - that this meant someone reeealy liked
you! HMMMMM.
My hometown has its own Facebook
pages and hundreds of former townmates, classmates and teammates share stories,
memories, throwing out the occasion “who was_____” query. Sometimes
frustrating but always fun!
Last week, I viewed some classic class
pictures. I recognized all the faces,
but it was hard to remember the names of all my former Valentines! I am always curious as to who else may be
doing the same thing with the photos I am pictured in!!
Eventually, I was able to match names
and faces and was left wondering where these people are and what they may be
doing.
Then there is the handful of those
you could never forget – not that you would ever try – or want to. They
are those who, regardless of the miles that may separate you, are always there
for you before you even ask. They just
know when you might be needing them and they are usually right.
I am blessed with two ‘real’
sisters. In addition, I am richly blessed
with a handful of friends with whom I have shared life: the surprises, good and bad, the shocks, the
gains, the losses…LIFE. While we
certainly share so much history, we cannot imagine the future without each
other. FRIENDS!
They are those who don’t keep score,
don’t track who was the last to call the other and with whom you pick up right
where you left off. You know each
other’s brothers and sisters name, who’s
where and who’s doing what; because you care.
FRIENDS!
Unlike many men, who seem to be able
to find a new best friend on demand, women approach friendship quite
differently. We define it more finely,
we nurture it more thoroughly and are slow to give it up.
Author William Arthur Ward (1921 –
1994) put it brilliantly
“A true friend knows your
weaknesses, but show you your strengths, feels your fears but fortifies your
faith, sees your anxieties but frees your spirit, recognizes your disabilities
but emphasizes your possibilities."
Sadly, I have reached that point in
life that connects us to our own mortality as we have gone through the loss of
many of our friends’ parents and now face loss within our own generation. The depth of that pain equals the height of
the love we will forever feel for that friend.
That’s how you know you were blessed to have had a friend.
So, IS it just me, or do you, too, feel blessed to have
at least one person in your life that you can call a true friend? Cherish it.
Take care of it. Be forever
grateful because of it; because of friendship.
Forever Reliable In (the) END
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