Friendship

I'd like to tell you about someone very special to me. We met when we were both 13 years old and unknowingly interested in the same guy - an older guy at that. He not only was not deserving of either of us, but he wasn't smart enough to figure out that she and I were smarter together than he could ever be in his wildest dreams. Gary (yes, I remember your name) ... I hope you've smartened up over the years.

But I digress. Back to what I wanted to share. Robin has been a dear, best friend to me over the years for many reasons. She was there when I was being abused (even though she wasn't aware of it), she provided the friendship, support and great distraction that I so desperately needed.

That's 40 years of friendship. Oh, we haven't always been in contact with each other. Things have happened to cause a rift, but always we've managed to maintain that feeling of closeness and have come back together as if there were no years, no hurts, no disappointments.

Robin has always been the one ... the only one ... I knew would accept me unconditionally. I depended on her for her honesty and her abiding friendship regardless of the miles between us or the last time we spoke.

She carries a part of me that is precious to me because most families do that for each other. She does it for me. She carries a great part of my memories and history. She remembers things I don't, and she can share the memories I do have. We have a great time going back and remembering things that were packed away. I can't do that with anyone else. To anyone reading this, I hope you realize how precious it is to have someone to share such memories with. She rekindles forgotten times when she and I had so much fun, barely stayed out of trouble, and just generally did what teenage girls did 40 years ago.

It had been 30 years since the last time we'd seen each other. Although we'd spoken on the phone hundreds of hours worth, we hadn't visited eye to eye. Finally, an opportunity came up that I could not let pass. My son and I made our way to her home, across country, and the great friend that she is, she opened her home to us, and her heart to my son. She embraced him as if she'd known him all his life. But then, I would not have expected anything different from her.

I guess the moral of this story is the power of true friendship. It transcends time and distance. If you have someone in your life who speaks to your heart as she has to mine, tell them. Don't wait. You may not have a tomorrow, and neither may they. Do it now. Pick up the phone … don't use email, the voice is so much more powerful. But do it today.

Being Thankful

This Thanksgiving I am feeling especially blessed. Perhaps it is because of the events of 9-11, and all the subsequent acts of terrorism, or perhaps it is because of my survival and healing of brain cancer, but, I am feeling much more appreciative this year. Regardless, I find myself being grateful for even the most simple of expressions.

This Thanksgiving it doesn’t matter what day we celebrate it on, as long as my family is together. Despite my younger son’s work schedule, Thanksgiving will be a family affair. A time to reconnect, a time to reestablish our relationships, a time to put differences aside for the day.

Past Thanksgivings I would have breathed every scent of my children in and made our time together slow, sweet, and memorable. Dishes and pots and pans would have waited. There would have been thoughts to share, conversations to have, and games to play.

This Thanksgiving I will rejoice a little differently. My oldest son, while living close by, will not share the holiday with me. My youngest son, he and I have decided since it is just the two of us, we will help out at the homeless shelter serving the Thanksgiving dinner to the less fortunate. That will be the best way for us to spend our Thanksgiving afternoon.

Of all the blessings that I count in my life, my children are at the very top. I look back on my life ... before my oldest son was born, and I realize that my life had no meaning, no value, no purpose until his birth. Since my oldest son has grown and moved onto his own life, it is my younger son who continues my purpose.

My children have loved me without condition. Except for the Father’s love, I’ve never known that before. How precious that is. When I look at my children, I am reminded of the amazing grace the Father has for me. There can be no other explanation for His goodness.

Births, weddings, family celebrations are all about love and creating memories ... memories that no camera could capture. These are the memories that can only be captured in our hearts.

What about you? Are you ready to shed the things that have no real value in your life? Are you prepared to prioritize so that the relationships that do have value, will also have a slice of your time?

This Thanksgiving, let’s all strive to enjoy the people who have meaning in our lives. Let’s remember the innocents who unwillingly gave their lives on the morning of September 11 and willingly give their time and lives in the war against terrorism. In doing that, let’s hold those we love close to our hearts so they know they are loved and valued by us.