Honoring Friendship
My review today won't be about a product but instead will be about the love of a friend, a long time friend who was given her wings this weekend. She will no longer be here physically to talk to but she will always be in my heart. How could she not be in my very soul? We were friends for 56 years! Almost 6 decades of wonderful memories. Times of laughter, times of sorrow, times of struggle, and times of triumph; we shared them all.
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There is nothing like the love of a friend
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Our friendship had an odd beginning. It began the year we entered 7th grade. We both came from small towns in small school districts. Those two districts had consolidated bringing us together that first year of consolidation. We had a lot in common before we ever sought each other out. We were both the oldest child in our family and we were both being raised by a single Mom. In 1964 divorce wasn't at all common, not in our area anyway. Up until the day our two schools merged, both of us were the only family in our school whose parents had divorced. Neither of us had someone to talk to about how we felt; to understand what divorce does to the kids. We both felt a little lost.
Oddly, my Mom had a date with her Dad. As far as our parents are concerned, that part of the story fizzled out pretty quickly. What did come out of that random date was a friendship that bonded the two of us quickly. Suddenly there was someone who understood! There was someone who cried with you when you missed your Dad. A person who didn't say dumb stuff like, "I'm not allowed to hang out with you anymore because you don't have a Dad." We would laugh about that one, of course we both had fathers; they just didn't live with us anymore. Comments like that seem odd in today's society but back then we both heard it a lot.
Looking back, I think we were meant to be friends. The connection was instant and strong. It almost seemed like in the matter of 5 minutes we were soul sisters. We were pretty much inseparable from that first day. There wasn't much we didn't do together. Trust me we did a whole heck of a lot together! It is probably best if most of that behavior is not mentioned here.
We planned our weddings together, we had children together and raised them at the same time. As time passed we lived away from each other and there might be spans of time that we didn't see or speak to each other for months. You must remember that back then we didn't have cell phones or computers to connect with. A phone call to your friend was long distance and cost money to make; money that was short in supply in our early married lives. My granddaughters don't even know what a long distance phone call is! Anyway, my point is that after months of not seeing or talking to each other we would begin like we had just seen the other the day before.
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Friends hold your hand through life
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It is pretty special to have a friend that loves you through it all. They know all your faults and love you anyway. Her friendship was special like that, it is something I have always treasured and been in awe of. I've had many friends throughout my life but none quite like her. She was special.
When her daughter called me last week, things went very quickly. I wasn't able to go hold her hand one last time. I didn't get to tell her how much she has always meant to me. At first that broke my heart but then I realized that she of all people knew. She knew I wouldn't be able to come because of the restrictions the world is going through and she also knew that I loved her. It was more important that she be able to spend those last few days with her children, her grandchildren and her family. I'm glad she got that time with them.
As much as it hurts to lose her, I'm finding comfort in that she didn't have to suffer very long. She had a rare form of cancer that took her quickly. I'm glad she was spared months and possibly years of pain and those horrible treatments. God was going to take her anyway, I'm actually thankful He took her before she had to go through much of that. Those of us who love her have lost her physical being but her spirit lives on in all of us. We have our memories to cherish as we continue on without her. I don't doubt for a minute that our souls will reunite. She is waiting, she is getting things ready, she will be standing there with open arms when I meet her again. Her fight is over but her memory will live on through all who knew her. Rest in peace my sweet dear friend!
My final message in this post is to remind you of that special friend you have shared your life with. Reach out to her or him and let them know what they mean to you. I don't care if you just spoke yesterday, tell them again today. Tomorrow is not a guarantee for any of us, make sure that those you love know how you feel today.
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You and your friend's family have my deepest sympathy, Bev. Friends are a priceless gift on this earth, especially the ones that are forged by shared pain and an understanding that only comes from similar life experiences. As Christians, you and I know that bond is not broken by dead. The image of your friend standing at the gates of Heaven with open arms is a beautiful portrait of a friendship that will last forever. You have truly been blessed! Thank you for sharing your wise counsel with all of us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure to hold a friend like that in your heart and soul. My dad once told me that if you are fortunate enough to have one or two dear friends like that in your life, you are beyond blessed. I know from this beautiful tribute that this is true for you. Thank you for sharing what friendship means to you (in its purest sense). I value friendship above all other things. Please know that I care.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful tribute to such a dear friend. I'm sorry for your loss. I agree with Diana, her dad is right it is areal blessing to have one or two good friends in your life.
ReplyDeleteOh my dear Bev, I can feel the love you had for your friend in every word you have written here. My heart is breaking for you. Your message to let those we love know, we love them is so timely. I feel that we can never quite do that enough. May your friend Rest in Peace and I'm sure she is in a much better place than we are currently. The one thing that never goes away is the love that we have for our true friends. God Bless!
ReplyDeleteBev, your tribute to your best friend is beautiful. Thank you for sharing her with us and thank you for the reminder to tell each of our best friends (and our family) how much they mean to us.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tribute and reminder to all of us not to take anyone for granted. Tell them you love them. Now.
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