What a great topic.
I'd say I have a lot of friends. It's odd that at this stage in life I can say that. I'm a runner and I'm a part of 3 running clubs so I know a lot of people. But I only have 3 - 4 really good friends.
Kat - I met her a small bible study group. She stood up for me at my wedding. We've been friends ever since. I talk to her at least weekly. We attend church together, eat together, run together, do life together, drink A LOT of coffee together! I love her. I love her like I love my sister. Except she's like my older sister. And as the oldest in my family, it's a treasure to have an "older sister". She is beautiful and better yet, we share clothes and shoes and purses!! She talks me off of the ledge when I'm just about over it about non sense and life. We pray together and cry together. Because I know her; I will be forever changed. We were meant to be together. She gets me. She doesn't judge my craziness, she just loves me.
Jen - although she's moved out of state now, I still talk to her weekly, sometimes daily. We have children born a month apart. Our kiddos have similar struggles, as do she and I. We became fast friends when we met in Sunday School; 9 years ago. She's taught me so much! So much. Like "everything's gonna be okay" particularly with my kiddo. She's the first person who I met whose child has the same issue as mine. I don't know how I would have gotten through elementary school without her! If anything can get this momma to melt down it's her kiddo struggling in school life. He struggles a lot, so melting down is common place around here. And she listens to me rage against the machine! And runs with me, and prays with me, and drink coffee with me, and does life with me. My life is forever changed because I know her. And she knows me. She Knows Me!
My Runner Girls - they see my struggles, they pick me up, they encourage me, they push me, they believe in me. We are a group of women with similar struggles, lives, goals. The running keeps us going, but it's the life we're doing together that keeps us together. It's the meals that show up at your door when you've come home from the hospital, it's the text that says "hey we missed you today, is everything okay." It's the understanding that today, not matter what's going on, we're gonna leave it all on the pavement. We walk together, talk together, run together, grow together, encourage one another, cheer for one another, push, pull and carry one another to the start line of races and across the finish line… of life. They believe in me when I don't. And there's plenty of times I don't. They believe in me anyway. Encourage me anyway. They know I'm capable of way more…. and push me to rise to the occasion! Bless Them!! They also like coffee, so there's that too! :)
It hasn't always been so… I haven't always had good friends. I've struggled with acceptance and accepting. But I've learned so much being in relationship with these women. And drank many cups of coffee!! :)
