Never Ever Dull
With every conversation, I always seem to end with "Never a dull moment"....our lives are rich, complex, and beautiful stories. Join me in laughing about everyday things and appreciating life-bumpy roads and all.
With her white blonde hair (she used to change her hair color like she was a member of the color-of-the-month club), my wise friend said, "Life gives you friends. Some are friends for the road. Some are friends for the heart." I didn't get the depth of her thought processes until I lived through more of life and all the experiences it brings. But I get it now. Back in Tennessee, I had to keep so much to myself. I didn't want my kids to see me crumble like a Nature Valley bar so I kept going. But one day, it all hit me like a freight train. I had gathered all these papers that spelled out the reason for my divorce and needed to get them out of the house. I walked into Bank of America. I signed the necessary paperwork for a safety deposit box and the nice older lady guided me through the heavily locked doors into the vault. She led me to my very own large metal box and gave me a key. I paused. I asked if I could have a minute before placing everything in the box that slid out ever so gently. She nodded and stood there. But the wave hit me like a tsunami and I couldn't stop the flood gates. I felt like a crumpled lump just sobbing. But then I heard someone crying. The bank employee was sitting on the floor beside me weeping. She had no idea what I was going through., but she did the best thing for me at the time: to be present. That's a friend for the road. Friends for the heart are the ones that you invest in and they invest in you. They're the ones that you share memories and conversations with and revisit those all the time. Some of those conversations can be tough and messy. The words speak truth and sting at times, but without that honesty, you would be left with only a friend for the road. Just the other day, my post college roommate texted that she would be driving through Raleigh with her family and wondered if we could grab a quick breakfast. As only friends for the heart do, we sat together for over an hour. cutting right to the things that matter most in our lives. A little bit of fluffy conversation at first to catch up on life's most recent events. But then, almost like the walls in Jericho, trust wins and my protective fortress breaks down in chinks. Our conversation is real and I have no hesitations in revealing my innermost thoughts. A friend for the heart listens and simply gets you without you second guessing if you should have shared so much. It also is very hard to say good bye to those friends for the heart folks. Your hugs are tighter since you know how much they mean to you. It's important to have friends for the road and for the heart. I've been blessed with both. And I've been double blessed when what I thought would be a friend for the road becomes a friend for the heart. =)
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AuthorFun-loving mom to 4 kids and 1 big puppy. Fifth grade teacher of amazing little people who have never ending things to share with me. Love to discuss Jesus, diy projects, and life. Trying to keep it simple: Love Jesus, love people. Archives
December 2021
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