To be a friend
I wrote this a love letter for my deepest and closest friends of over a decade. No amount of words would ever be able to capture all we have experienced together. More than ever I am reminded why friends are needed. Through all this craziness lately I have been reminded of how important it is to have true friends that really understand your emotions and feelings. I have a lot of people I like, care about, and even love. But there is something special about people who have seen your worst and best and still love you. Hold onto (metaphorically because you shouldn’t be touching anyone right now) to those who know you. It’s really important to be able to cry, vent, and laugh with each other in this trial the world is facing.
Found together outside themselves and tied together through heart and faith.
Through laughter and tears the bond was forged
Joy and sorrow deep within the bones
Through weakness and strength-of-will they continue forward
Bitterness and anger teaching humbleness
The quiet of the stillness sought
Clung desperately together in times of strife, fear, and weariness
They held each other up as they held each other’s babes
Entered the early years of friendship as wide-eyed and new, unaware of the paths that would wind them together
Though the walk not always as simple as it would seem, they would continue down, spurred forward by something greater than themselves
Different as the tides that come and go
One whose heart was meant to teach them how to love the least to the greatest
One with the strength to hold true to what is right and good
One with the passion of loyalty that pushes them through
One with bravery to speak the questions they may fear
One with the quietness of order that steers them toward each other
One with the gift of knowledge to teach them how to learn and believe
One to watch and record the words
They search themselves and find they are intertwined
Offered a gift few can receive
The gift has weight and fear and grace
The gift isn’t easily carried
Their own hands do not even get to carry it but the hands that carry them hold it precious for them
As time changes so do they
Time takes its pieces and space
Their wide-eyed new selves no longer viable but different creations take their places
Still they move together but separate
A new time came and brought new places to visit
Within themselves
The battle raged and they held steadfast
Made stronger alone
Made stronger together
When foundations threatened to crumble, and they wavered their savior steadied them once again
Dust settled and new scars were formed but still together they stood
Fear and love woven together
Through their hearts, minds, and souls
Trust built and tested
The trials made them stronger both separate and together
Memories of love and laughter remind them they know each other pasts
Fears shared remind them of their truths
Friendship has been their gift
Learning, growing, changing
New people over and over again with each other
Through sickness
Through late nights and early mornings
Through learning
Through kids
Through husbands
Through new and old
Together
New days dawn and their souls stayed tied together
Space and time do not separate them but pull them closer
Tied together through heart and faith
This is dedicated to the women that taught me friendship.
Angie, your constant ability to love and give love amazes me. Also the little bit of darkness you carry so you aren’t too sincere that it leads to sappiness.
Bethy, you are the most steadfast and trustworthy person I have ever known and how you simply speak truth is beautiful but also just sarcastic enough.
Addie, your ability to love us in the way that keeps up together and simply push us to physically see each other is a true gift and you belong to us and with us.
Rachael, you are always willing to challenge the first thought offered and not accept us just as we are but believe in us to push us to our best.
Crystal, the way you willingly handle this insane group of people and somehow bring any order to us in the way a rudder steers a ship.
Bridget, how do I simplify all you have taught me, from any question I have had about the bible to singing about cats that solve mysteries and not questioning why that would be what we did, to teaching me to accept my ability as my art. You are always teaching and always giving that gift and I forgive you for leaving me to love your family.
To myself, never built to have friends or be a good friend but had somehow been able to love and have you all in my life for so long.