My kids....My heart

My kids....My heart

Thursday, June 23, 2011

The beauty of friendship

It’s amazing what and who we take for granted in this life. I’m guilty of it myself. We shouldn’t for a minute take for granted that our friendships will endure without being properly nourished. Real, authentic friendships are born in the heart but grow only when tenderly cared for. I know for a fact that when tenderly cared for the love of faithful friends can sustain you for life.

I have taken many opportunities to openly express the love and gratitude I feel for the amazing family I was born into. I am beyond grateful for the love and devotion of those who share my genetic make up. I am not sure who I would be if not for them.

But how often have I said thank you to the women in my life who have nurtured me? I don’t know how often I have thanked these ladies who have given me courage, encouragement, strength, love, and unbiased, unconditional love. They are the same ladies that have, at times, been there to share those glorious moments of uncontrolled, hysterical laughter. Oh my goodness the laughter! You know, the kind of laughter that begins in the center of your stomach and then erupts uncontrollably ~ that kind of laughter is simply delightful.

I don’t know what bonds friendships more – the tears or the laughter, but I know being able to share them both openly and without hesitation is a true mark of friendship.

My family has no choice but to love me but my friends have made a conscious decision to nurture our friendship and that is such a beautifully powerful thing. Today, let me thank you for your friendship. Thank you for loving my crazy, un-rehearsed, raw, truthful, and yes, sometimes, fragile soul.

To know that I have an absolute safe place to expose my naked heart without fear is comforting. Upon returning from a long needed and decidedly heart-healing visit with our friend’s mother, my loving friend Marni wrote, “How wonderful to bare your soul and have your heart filled to capacity at the same time.” I am tremendously blessed to have that safe place that allows me to bare my soul and have my heart filled to capacity because of the unconditional love of some very amazing women that I am fortunate to call “friend.”

I treasure those authentic friendships that life has blessed me with. Today, from my heart to yours, I say, “Thank you.”