Faithful Friends Who Are Dear To Us...

I am feeling very content right now. Things are just really good. This past weekend I spent two wonderful days with my best friends from school in Chicago. All of us have been friends since we were freshmen. As I spent the weekend with them, I looked around at each of them and noticed just how different all of our lives were from when we first became friends. I can promise you that if you asked any of us if we thought we would be where we are today we would say, “no way.” Each of us have changed so much, and the dreams we once had then have altered. We have all been through different hardships, struggles, relationships, and even tragedies. The path we all laid out for ourselves two and a half years ago was not exactly the path God took us on. I would never have planned or asked for what the past year brought. I do know, however, that God could not have placed better people in my path. These girls (and so many other friends) have been with me, and all of us, through our most difficult times with such love and strength. The kind of love that you know only can come through Christ. I cannot even describe how blessed I feel (especially this Christmas season) for having them. True, faithful friends.

Then Monday morning I got a text from Chelsey saying that she prayed for me that morning. It was funny because her and I both had stuff going on that morning that we were anxious about, and I too, while getting ready that morning, prayed for her. It is in those kind of moments where you receive those messages from a friend who has not forgotten about you, that you remember the joy and meaning of Christmas.

Through the busyness and laughter and preparing for Christmas this week, it brought back a lot of great memories. Why is it that around Christmastime we always reminisce so much? Anyway, I started thinking about how I missed out on my dad’s side’s family Christmas because of Chicago this year. I began remembering all those years we would pack up and head down to Indiana where buckeyes and homemade pies would be waiting for us. Through these memories I began to miss my grandpa. Not that I was ever super close to him or anything, but I longed to be maybe ten again when all of us cousins would run around my grandparents house drinking Dr. Pepper and eating my grandma’s homemade Chex Mix and watching Home Alone. Of course my grandpa was there then. During that same moment when I was thinking about that, I was helping my aunt get ready to have the church youth group over for their Christmas party. Out of no where, I began to feel this bittersweet feeling. It was not very long ago when I would be attending one of those parties. Of course, Brad would have been there too. It’s not that I am not totally happy where I am now, because I am, but I began to remember all of those parties, and Brad, and wonder why again he is not here. I am no longer grieving like I was last year, because I have accepted the fact, and the tears that I cried Sunday night were not the same painful ones I cried last year. This time, they were those bittersweet tears of remembering something special. If he were here now I would probably call him up and remember with him how during our senior Christmas party I taught him how to cheat in Apples to Apples and tell him how the other day I once again, got my car stuck in the snow in our driveway. He would laugh for sure. As I continued to help my aunt set up, I walked to the barn to get some chairs. Right next to the barn is this huge dog kennel where my aunt’s first dog, Blue, used to spend his days. Blue was so special to our family, and I grew up with him always being there for me. I know this could sound silly because I suppose he is just a dog, but he was truly a part of our family. I looked at that kennel and remembered Blue and remembered how when he died over Christmas break two years ago Brad was the first person I told. There was nothing Brad could really do to make the sting of losing a family dog go away, but I will never forget that he was simply there to talk to, just like all of my friends have been there for me this year. Neither Blue nor Brad are here now, but I will never forget how in one point in time, they were here. Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book Traveling Mercies that I read last year. The quote is so true:

“I believe that when all is said and done, all you can do is show up for someone in crisis, which seems so inadequate. But then when you do, it can radically change everything. Your ‘there-ness’ can be life giving; because often everyone else is in hiding.”

As the beauty of Christmas continues to unfold within the next couple of days, I hope you take time to remember all of those people who have been there for you through the good times and the bad, and to be there for someone yourself. That is what makes Christmas so special.
Merry Christmas =]