First of all I have to say that I am blessed to have many people in my life that I consider "friends". If I were truly in need of food, a tank of gas, or in a life or death situation, I have an address book and a church, and even a bunch of folks on Facebook that I know I could call right up. If you are one of those folks, I say thank you, and I love you for this. (If not, then um, why the heck not? I'm a good person!! And I'd do it for YOU!!)
I have fewer friends that I hang out with on a regular basis, and by regular I mean- I shoot them a message on Facebook and say "yo what's up? We have GOT to get together and catch up!!", and then feel like we have accomplished something great when it happens! Yea, you know what I'm talkin about! I have even fewer that know my deepest darkest secrets.
That's normal I am certain.
Tonight however, I am reminded of a type of friend that is different than all of this. This is the friend that you call when you are at your very lowest. (or text, because I am famous for this. I am convinced the text message is the greatest invention known to man!)
This friend does not agree with you that your life sucks. She doesn't say "how could they do that to you?" She does not say "well let me tell you how bad my life sucks". She doesn't make you feel hopeless. She doesn't tell you to take a pill or have a drink and go to bed. She makes you feel better. She tries to make you see the good in every situation.
This happened to me tonight. I texted my friend. I said "ya know what, I just don't know how much lower I can get. I'm going to bed for a while. I'll call you later." (in a nutshell) she simply replied "I love u". I told her I loved her too and to please pray for me. She said she was praying right now. That's not what I "wanted". I wanted her to call me and listen to me whine and say "oh poor Tammy". If she had done that, I'd be laying in my bed, in the dark crying my eyes out right now. Instead I'm laying across the bed typing this blog from my iPhone. Do ya see where I'm going here?
I heard a song a few weeks ago by Sugarland called "Shine the Light". It moved me to tears for an entirely different reason. Right now it's stuck in my head because that's what Kristi has done for me. She shined the light for me. And she does so over and over. She never fails. I want you to go listen to this song. Kristi I want YOU to go listen to this song. You are this person. You made me feel so much better today and you probably have no idea you even did anything.
As for me, I have a lot of work to do. I have a tendency to be the "oh bless your heart, poor you" kind of friend. Starting right now- Monday, November 1, 2011 at 7:02 PM, I am gonna change. I am going to be the Shine the Light friend. I'm going to fail miserably. I'm going to slip up and throw someone a huge pity party. If I do that to you, them you need to beat me up. But I am going to strive for excellence. When you guys come to me whining, I am going to help you see the light- the bright side. I am challenging myself personally and I am challenging you. Will you join me?
Kristi- thank you. I love you more!
