Friends don’t go…they stay...

Friends don’t go…they stay

Have you ever been in…what felt like the deep end…

You don’t swim…struggling…but the pool is full

Have you ever felt like…you were the person in the forest…

Yelling…but no-one could hear you…

They were right there…but couldn’t hear you

Some distracted by their own life situations…

Some just may not understand…

Because they haven’t had the experience…

And others simply aren’t concerned

During a ‘what in the world’ moment in my life…

A minister said to me…

‘Everyone who smiles in your face…is not your friend…

Pray and ask God who’s who’

I can’t tell you, today, what that message was about

But I can tell you that it was a painful…life changing…

But impactful experience on the rest of my life

I did as he said…I prayed and asked God to show me…

And He did…the response was quick and undeniable

It was the beginning of a new journey of healing

It shaped my ability to forgive…for real

And at the same time…taught me how to set boundaries…

To protect my heart and minimize distractions

It’s not magical…it’s a process

The reality is that the people we love…the most…

Have the greatest power to hurt us…the most

Because of our imperfect selves…

We will unintentionally hurt one another

But I’ve found that there is a very distinct…

Difference between unintentional and intentional hurt

Initially the intensity of the sting seems the same…

But after the swelling goes down…there is no sign of one…

Yet the other leaves a scar that may or may not go away

The beauty of being honest with ourselves…about ourselves…

And those around us…is that we have…

A choice to make…an opportunity…

An opportunity to forgive…

An opportunity to love…

An opportunity to understand and accept seasonal change…

An opportunity to be grateful for what is…

An opportunity to grow…spiritually…mentally…emotionally…relationally

An opportunity to get better and be better…

An opportunity to help others to get better and be better…

When we’re in the deep end…

Or yelling on mute…

I believe that God has strategically positioned…

Angels among us…

Family who are like friends…and friends who are like family…

Who are with us in and outside of the deep end…

And who are still on the line…when we eventually unmute…

The contexts that we use the word friend in…have changed…

But the real definition of a friend…will never change

Friends don’t go…they stay…

Until the end of their time…or yours