Girl Friends

I couldn't live without them. They have been one of the most important elements in my life, in helping me understand who I am. It has taken years to understand true friendship and to experience it but, when God blessed me with them He did an outstanding job! My friends have taught me that love doesn't keep count: a friend doesn't keep track of who has done what, when and how much. When a friend is there they aren't there because they want something no, they're there because they just want to be with someone. Namely; you!

I never knew that it was possible to ever have someone want to be with me just because they enjoyed who I was. That someone would go out of their way to spend time with me simply because they enjoyed who I was!

Think about it, it's a phenomenal concept to realize that there are people around you that like you just because you're you! But now, define you: define your loves, your hates, your strengths, your weaknesses, your accomplishments, your failures; define you and only you. Then, look in the mirror and let it sink in to the very depths of your soul what an utter miracle it is that we as selfish, sinful, messed up humans can love and be loved for just the simple fact of being alive; for being you.

Incredible!

 

In my journey towards understanding God, myself, family, life, friends, all of that big stuff, I have found over and over again that God has been using my friends to keep showing me the greater picture. A picture of Him. The utter phenomenal part of His picture is that, the more I look at Him the more I find myself, my family, my directions, and my friends. But, I don't find them in the same ways, I see them all in different colors, forms, and even shapes.

When I look at God's picture, when I look at God, it's like stepping into the most beautiful picture you can imagine and being able to walk inside of it. Only that this picture takes it a brush stroke further and allows one to be changed because of it and learn how to see the picture through your friend's eyes. Like I said, it's a phenomenone. I'm not even sure if I've been able to explain what exactly I've been trying to describe but, hopefully you grasped the idea that, looking into God's eyes, His heart, who He is, you'll find that this may be because of a friend He's put in your life.

Totally incredible.

 

Some of these concepts may not be so new to you. In fact, they may seem obvious and matter of fact however, there is an old saying that goes, "You don't know what you have until you've lost it". I, for one, do not wish to experience life through such an adage.What a life to look forward to! Think about it, that implies that; you can't appreciate your family until you've lost them. You won't know the blessings of having food to eat, clothes to wear and a house to live in until they have all been taken away. You will take your friends for granted and won't be able to understand the beauty of having them until they're gone. How pessimistic is that! And I vehemently protest against it!

When I first heard it I decided right then and there that I would prove such a phrase wrong. I thought, "Why do you want to take things for granted "Lion"? Do you want to discover in your old age all of the things that sliped past you simply because your eyes were closed?" From then on I have sought to keep my eyes open, to appreciate the good with the bad. I have decided that the biggest factor in not realizing what you have when you have it is because one is afraid to see the reality of their situation. If you can't see something clearly isn't the logical reason because something is obscuring your vision? It works this way in the physical world, why not in the emotional? The spiritual? The social?

This is how I came to my conclusion: Christ said He wanted to put salve on our eyes and that by seeking His Truth we would be free. Christ asks us to surrender our perceptions for His and His Salve is what does this. He sees all things, and all people, clearly and perfectly. So then, if I have Him put His salve on my eyes then! I learn to see Him and everyone else as they really are. I can appreciate them in the here and now. Now, it does take time to learn to adjust to such perspectives so, we can't completely avoid taking things for granted... but! we can certainly grow to appreciate more; more often.  

Yes, that is one of my many philosophies on life. One that I seek ever so hard to hold true to but, I think it is one that changes in color and shape so fast one can't truly be sure whether or not they are really appreciating something for what it really is until; it's gone? I hope and pray not! And since I really don't know either way, I will trust that with God and dedicate my time, loyalty and love to those who lie closest to me.