Special Blessing: Friends

"My friends have made the story of my life. In a thousand ways, they have turned

my limitations into beautiful privileges and enabled me to walk serene and happy."

--Helen Keller

Real friends are very hard to come by. There is a difference between casual friendships and friendships that challenge you, encourage you, make you into a better person...I am so thankful to now have some of these latter ones.

It wasn't always that way. My early teenage years are fraught with memories of "friends" ditching me for someone better, ditching me when they didn't like me any more...so many journal entries are tear stained as I poured out my heart to the Lord. Never could I have imagined how the Lord would turn my "sorrow into dancing."

I can see how he used the damaged relationships to point me into better ones. I had to be broken by some to be uplifted by others. I feel like praising God today for his immense blessings. This post is, in many ways, a love letter to them....sadly, I don't have pictures of all of them ;-)

My "second sisters"--Meghan and Sara. These are the two I go to see in Pittsburgh every year (well, I have for the past two years =) They are my phone talker friends; we talk for an hour minimum once or twice a week. I share a very, very special bond with them--they truly are the younger sisters I never had!! We talk about many various topics, from Food Network and American Idol and Carrie Underwood to their friendship issues, family developments, devotions, etc. etc.
The girls with their Mom, my "Aunt Suzie." I am closer to her than I am my own aunt. My last visit to Pittsburgh grew me closer to her and while we don't always see eye to eye ;-), I always know that she has my best interests at heart. Now, I end up talking with her on the phone for long periods....and Meghan and Sara practically have to wrench the phone away from her.

My "Sisters of the Heart"--Anna, Miriam, and Jen. I have had an accountability with these three for over two years now. I have been individual friends with them for about four years, but the group has grown us together. We e-mail prayer requests and goals once a week and then recap how we did. Let me tell you, it truly makes you accomplish what you set out to do! I love each of them dearly!! This past May allowed us to meet face to face for the first time; God alone opened the doors for this visit.
Just with all friendships, her have had some hiccups, a few misunderstandings. But we grow closer through them; God does work them all for good. It has been amazing to see the paths that God has taken us since creating our group--and who knows where else He will take us.

And of course, there is my family. It took a lot of pain for God to teach me that no matter what friends come and go, your family is always there for you. (Well, at least my family, as I know not everyone is as blessed.) I have different relationships with each of them; I even have a special relationship with my brother. And believe me when I say that I never expected that =)

Each friendship, both pictured and not, means the absolute world to me. I even have a special place in my heart for the friends that wounded me; without them, I wouldn't have these!! I hope you have some special people in your life. And if not, do not despair--I know they will come. I have living proof of that.