People are one of the most tremendous gifts in life. We know this. We say we don’t take that lightly or take them for granted, but we do. We are human and unintentionally we bruise one another. We are sensitive and easily broken and thankfully the Lord has given us His character and allowed us a capacity for love and grace and compassion and revealed through His son the power of forgiveness and provided a way to cover a multitude of wrongdoings. We will each need to be tenderhearted and see each other through His eyes, willing to forgive much, if we are to walk well together. This space in my life has taught me much about my people and my heart has doubled in size when it comes to gratitude for those who have chosen to come close and love me in what has been one of the hardest places I’ve ever had to live.
I have always been known as someone who has a lot of friends. And that’s true - I have an instagram hashtag #friendsaremypeople and in some ways I feel like it perfectly encapsulates me. I love living life alongside those I care about - being actively involved in their everyday and seemingly ordinary. However, when things get ugly and you’re able to give less, in a fresh way it becomes resolved and clear who will still be abundantly present and the Lord has been so gracious to reveal friends that love me deeply and cherish the road we have walked together. In this season, I feel like He has confirmed the people who are truly in for the long-haul. The lifers. I could weep right now as I contemplate the amazing gift it is to know there are people who really do know me and choose me and love me regardless of any circumstance or condition. I like to say that best friend isn’t a person, it’s a tier. However, there might be levels, and there are four people in particular who have truly risen to the top. They shine and sparkle and make my heart so ridiculously glad. Two of my people don’t live within a realistic proximity to live everyday life together and yet I have to say that’s another thing I have learned much about during this season. Showing up has very little to do with actually being there in person. I have been amazed and humbled by the ways these wonderful women have appeared in text messages and voicemails on a daily basis. They have the most amazing ability to make me laugh at the ugliest and most painful situations, to take the edge off the most sensitive parts of my heart and remind me to be tougher and stronger and choose the most important things - they’re the best perspective adjusters I know. They are the ones I can text in the middle of the night. The ones who will cry with me. The ones who pray for me, hope for me, and have words for me when I can find none. I always knew I needed them, I just didn’t know how much.
There really isn’t an adequate way to say thank you - words in a card will never be enough. I think that’s how this whole thing works. Somehow in gratitude, in thanksgiving, in response to love that is much deeper than anticipated, we walk together, not just for now but for a lifetime through whatever the path may bring. We walk hand in hand even if there are miles between us because we’ve learned what it means to carry one another. Life is guaranteed to be hard and to hurt, but I want these girls in my corner for every last minute of it and I pray with every ounce that I can sit in their corners as well. I think I might have four matrons of honor and I think maybe that’s the most amazing and beautiful thing ever.
“The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.”
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