One of the greatest gifts in my life, is the gift of friends.
I reflect on my history, and define each season on my timeline with both the experiences that created who I am and the friends who held my hand. All the epic fails, catastrophic traumas, and celebratory successes that emerged- we have navigated this life together. Each phase and each stage seems to be intertwined with friends who would dive into the trenches of battlegrounds hard fought, and remain in the horrific scene until the blood ran dry.
The depth and intimacy of my friendships throughout my life, have been my greatest source of strength and at times, survival.
Despite the obvious gifts of my husband and kids, I can safely say that these various friendships that have been sewn into the tapestry of my life are and always will be my greatest gifts.
Each layered and laced bond, produced a purpose and ultimately filled a place in my heart and consequently colored my life. I can’t look back on my memories without the profound presence of their participation in it all.
Whether I imagine my traumatic teens, my reckless 20’s, my emerging 30’s or my landing 40’s… I can literally still name every one of my best friends- who entangled their lives and their hearts with mine. Tracy, Megan, Kirsten, Sheri, Dawn and Shelley… I wouldn’t have survived those years without you. Barb, Dena, Amy, Barb S, Mo Mo, Theresa… Oh, how you helped me navigate a new world. Angie, Nicole, Christy, Heather, Janet, Diana, Melissa, Lynn… I couldn’t have grown without you. Ilene, Jennifer, Tammy, Marcia, Emily, Shelly, Misti, Julie, Lizzi … walking through fire with you is inspiring.
I’m blessed. So very blessed.
When you have those moments with the friends you love through the ages, the ones who continue on your timeline despite changes, shifts and the inevitable ‘drift’ that occurs with life’s currents…
There are those few that seem to stick.
When I wrote those names of past friends and current flame fighters, I could easily identify some people that are still stuck in my life- some for almost 40 years, others 30 years, still more 10,15, 20 years and counting. And as time seems to fill these outlasting friendships with the richness of experience bringing new layers of depth and devotion through loss, divorce, children, grandchildren, while taking new steps and holding true to old-
I’m in awe of the beauty that transpires.
I wrote a piece reflecting on one precious moment that seemed to spiral out of my heart upon reflecting on it. I cried through every word, while sitting out on my back patio scribbling it on a notepad. It’s amazing how a moment can evoke such passion. My piece was published on The Mid (Click to read it). Would you so generously take the time to read it? And I hope somehow, it resonates with you and brings to light the power of your own friendships in your life.
Hold on tight to the ones that stick.
This is so beautiful, and so very true. I love that different friends come into our lives in different seasons and for different reasons. God gives us who we need at the time we need them. But I DO love my sticky friends! The girls I have loved since I was a kid and am still friends with. And my college friends, and my blogger friends, and my babyloss friends… love this Chris.
Thanks so much Alexa! I really believe God’s greatest provision in this life is friends. I love that you have been blessed with so many friendships through all the seasons of your life and especially the sticky ones!! We are truly rich! 🙂
Heading over to read now and couldn’t agree more about lifelong friendships from what you shared above.
Thanks so much Janine!! 🙂
Heading over there to read it now:). Oh, I don’t know where I’d be with out my friends!
Right? Oh how I thank God for friends every single day… Thank you Allie!
I’ll walk through fire with you any day of the week. Love you! And can’t wait to read what you wrote on The Mid.
You are one of the greatest Flame Fighters I know… I am so incredibly honored to walk alongside you. LOVE you so much Jen!!
Going to The Mid right now! I love the reminder to hold on to the friends that stick. So much.
Thank you Kristi… so much!!
Such a moving piece as always. My dear sweet sister, all I can say is THANK YOU for sticking with ME! You are my oxygen! xox!
God has given us each other and blessed us ABUNDANTLY in doing so… Oh, the love!!! *Holding on to you tight*
We all need a friend as encouraging as you. I’m heading over to The Mid.
Thank you so much Julie. I think, no- I KNOW there are so many beautiful souls who dive deep and hold on, and often carry their friends… oh how I love those people. I am incredibly blessed to have friends just like that.
what a beautiful and moving post…
Thank you so much Hilary. <3
—–beautiful, Chris.
I believe people come into our lives for a reason.
God places people in our paths as encouragers, mentors, and even
the negative, icky people provide lessons for us!
Some for a season. Some for a lifetime.
My ultimate best friend was Kay, of course,
but I have 4 other friends, whom will
be with me FOREVER in darkness & light and death.
PS. if you lived near me, I believe we’d be great friends and prayer partners. xxx
Oh you speak truth, my friend. SO many people come into our lives for a season, a purpose- and then there are those ones who stick… for a lifetime. Somehow they manage to walk alongside all the changes that shift our trajectory – no matter what unfolds through the years. I do love that so very much. And I also treasure those seasonal friends- because in many ways they stick too. Simply because of the role they played on our timeline and such significance remains permanently in our memories.
Yes… we would be great friends and prayer partners. Oh yes.
I don’t know if it is because I have moved so many times in my life, and that last one being a major one where I moved from my hometown when I married, to my husband’s city —- where I knew nobody!! — but I don’t think I’ve been very good at this. I have a few that I have managed to remain in contact with, even if it is just a couple of times per year.
But the ones I made since moving, I am often not sure if we are the right “fit” for one another. The circumstances that brought us together are… IDK.. flimsy? I don’t feel they get me, or that I get them at all often. Although, absolutely: I love them for the incredible and good people they are. But is that enough for the “Stick?” I feel a bit of a transition…
It seems you are definitely in need of exploring new peeps, Leslie. Not that those friends are not important to keep in your life!! It just feels to me like your depth and creativity and faith need more nourishment and inspiration than what they can offer you- and perhaps what you can give them too. You are such a gift of a person- so rich with incredible gems… you surely deserve to share your journey and your truths alongside someone who gets you. Praying for that for you, my friend. 🙂
Thanks for another inspirational post. At times, I have felt like that motherless child. But in the last few weeks, my “friends”have stepped up and showed up when I needed them. I am grateful for friendships that have endured for over 40 years!
It’s really the greatest blessing when our friends show up… step in…dive deep… carry…nourish…serve us in our need. I’m SO glad you have friends like that, Michelle!! And friends that endure for that long? GOLDEN. 🙂
I have a very tight group of friends from college and they are the ones who have really stuck in my life. Now that we are starting to have children, I look forward to them spending lots of time together and becoming friends with each other as well. I look forward to reading your piece!
I love that, Bev! I’m so glad you have your tribe! It’s just so important to have friendships like that!!
I can’t agree more with you Chris. My friends mean the world to me. They were there to cheer me up, to share joy and lovely days with me and they were there when I could hardly find enough air to breathe and walk through another day.
Friends are blessings.
May we always remember them and thank God for them. They are precious!
Have a lovely sunday!
You said it perfectly, Marie! I have a framed picture that a friend gave me that says “Friends are Gods way of taking care of us.” I think that is perfect!!
Hi Chris! ‘flame fighters’. I really like that term. How true it is that we are blessed with people who accept us and ride along with us at differing times of our lives. I especially feel that today, as you know, it’s my birthday. I think the whole idea of these happy days is to remind us of our great blessings.
And you are one of them!!
Hugs,
Ceil
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FRIEND!!!! Oh, how I pray you feel the blessings of SO many friends in your life… Today I celebrate YOU, beautiful beautiful YOU. 🙂
So true. There are some friends that will always be with you even when you are miles a part. Recently I was able to spend an afternoon w/ my bestie from HIGH SCHOOL and it felt like no time had passed. We were able to pick right back up and take and laugh. It was wonderful.
Ah… how absolutely WONDERFUL Stephanie!! I love friends like that. 🙂