Friends. What does that word mean to you? How have friends influenced your life? There seems to be different types of friendships. Fair weather friends, passing friendships, heart friends, lifelong friends.
When I was a little girl, I had a good friend, and we did everything together. But as would happen, my family moved away and I lost contact with that friend.
After I moved to another state it was hard to make new friends. A girl I met in school befriended me. Dorothy was so sweet and friendly. We stayed friends all through high school. After graduation, she got married, had a baby, and as we eventually lost contact, our friendship waned.
Walking into the next step of life I've met other gals whom I've befriended. Yet there was never really that "heart" friend. You know the one you can share your deepest thoughts with, and know that it will go no farther then her ear.
In a recent post, I introduced you to Diana. She was such a warm and likable person. She was that girl that everyone liked, she was everybody's friend. Through the years she became my BFF. We would talk together almost every day. She was giving and hospitable. She loved life and laughed a lot. But the one thing about Diana that made her special, was her unselfish unconditional love. Now that's the kind of friend a body needs. Eleven years ago she lost her battle with cancer. And I have missed her so much.
God in His kindness brought another lovely lady into my life. Even though she lives over 1000 miles away, there was something special about our relationship.We had so many things in common. Communication started to flow between us. We would only see each other about once a year, yet our friendship started sticking like glue.
Through the years our friendship has grown. I value her thoughts and prayers. We try hard to visit each other a couple of times a year, you know, just to catch up on family and rekindle that link of communication. We always pick up where we left off, just like we lived next door to each other.
What does it mean to have such a special friend??
"Oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort, of feeling safe with a person. Having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words. But to pour them all out just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away." (George Eliot)
Take a moment and write a note to your special friend. Let them know how much they have invested in your life. It will only take a few minutes, but the rewards will last a life time.
7 comments:
I could write a book about friends. Mine have always meant the world to me, but so many just want to use people and lose them.
I'm so sorry you lost your BFF. I know that is so hard to endure. One of my best friends committed suicide 4 years ago this Feb. She didn't live near us, but we visited once or twice a year. She was a family friend, and always, always seemed to be a happy person. She kept in contact with so many in our small town.
She was the kind you could tell anything to and not worry about it. It put a big hole in our hearts and her family's hearts.
I'm 66, and I talk more to my online sewing friends than my local friends. Everyone stays so busy. Life is strange sometimes, but I've been blessed in so many ways.
I really enjoyed your post, Jocelyn. Thank you for sharing! I'm terribly sorry you lost your dear friend to cancer - truly hurts my heart.
I've had many, many friends but I have primarily acquaintances. I like to think I'm a good friend but it appears that I'm not. I thought I had a friend of the heart. I won't bore you with the details; they simply don't matter. Suffice it to say I've made peace with the fact that I'm not as likeable as I think I am.
Take care of your friend - she's a true rarity.
Hugs!
a very touching blog and today here in the UK it is writing day when they are saying get out that fountain pen and write a letter, mind you I always use a fountain pen. Re friends unfortunately I have lost my 2 greatest friends to that dreaded cancer and another 2 also to cancer, Now I have blogging friends but I so miss having a real life friend. As we get older things like this happen
A year ago, I retired, sold my house and bought a small farm 1800 miles from where I lived my entire life. I had lots of friends there, not the BFF's I always longed for, but good friends just the same. It took me years to cultivate those friendships, they were warm and comfy friendships. I have no friends here, acquaintances, but no friends. While my daughter was living here with me, (she moved up here with me and then we had a falling out) she would tell me, you just need to go out and make friends! I don't know how to do that. Most of the friends I left behind were people I had know "forever"! She doesn't understand that. She's out working everyday, with people her age, I am here doing what I wanted to do...quilting cross stitching, crocheting and taking care of my animals. I did join a quilt club, that I am sure will help me develop some friendships, but now, at this point, I am on this five acre farm, not in the best of health and my daughter hates me. I'm thinking about selling all of this and moving to a place closer to home. Can't go all the way back home, I could not afford the property, but there is a place closer, that I am familiar with and I could get home in a three hour drive. Sorry I've kind of taken this over.
I already had a card here, for my BFF of almost 39 years. We've seen each other thru so much, over the decades. We met on her birthday, at a combined birthday party for her and my friend (whom we've both lost touch with). Something 'clicked' when we met, and, we'd do anything for each other. I moved away, over 20 years ago, but, that didn't change things.
I have been blessed with many really good friends throughout the years. Many are still my friends 20-30 years later. I hope that I have been as good a friend to them as they have been to me. Thanks for a wonderful blog post. I've read it several times now.
Oh sweetie how hard to lose such a kindred spirit, someone who "gets" you and appreciates you....a person you can truly be yourself with is rare and quite hard to find. Especially as you get older. My best friend is talking about moving across the country and it's giving me panic attacks, lol. Oddly enough, we met online, in a yahoo embroidery group - found out we lived right down the same street from each other.
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