Haiku For Ruthie
“Lifelong” friends are great
Short term friends have their place, too
Both needed for a rich life.
I haven’t spoken to MFR at all since we moved to Birmingham in January. Which, for Ru and I, is like an eternity.
And God knows it wasn’t for her lack of trying.
So last night, she finally caught up to me at just the right time and we ended up talking on the phone for some unbelievable length of time—like 3 hours or so.
It was great.
And I’m reminded once again of a simple and undeniable, yet counterintuitive, fact:
The time that I spend in the company of supportive friends isn’t time that I lose. It’s time that I gain. In drawing from and giving back to my dear friends, I get the “real Me” back.
So instead of a shell of “me”, tired and emotionally wrought-out, I get back an encouraged, refreshed “me” who is better equipped to take on another day with grace.
Of course it takes an especially tenacious friend to “stay with me”, because I’m notorious for running from these times of phoning and emailing, because (for some unknown reason) I’m quick to forget that friends don’t subtract from me, they add back to me.
When will I ever learn?
So thanks, Ru, and also the other MFR (grin), MFA (all three of you), MFC, MFN and MFB [Y’all know who you are!] for being my friend and for having the courage to continue to pursue me even when I don’t pursue in return. I hope we all have the chance to be “lifelong” friends.
I love you all.
(And though I don’t acknowledge it enough, I have been blessed with a rich, rich life because of you.)
Filed under: General, Catbird, Random Thoughts, Tidbits, Poetry, Friendship on April 16th, 2007
Supportive friends who have known you for a long time are the best epople to spend time with, either in person or on the phone. They are a healing balm to the soul.
We also all understand that life has been really crazy for you the last couple months, so that makes it easier to extend grace when it’s hard to connect.
Love you.
And we are blessed because of you.
Even though we all miss you to pieces, and want to talk to you everyday, we all also understand what it’s like to try to balance God, family, and life. I know what a circus that can turn into sometimes. The moments when I do get to catch up to you, I cherish!
Love you girl!
YFA - The youngest one.
you’re welcome. . .it’s a privilege to keep you and Paul and the girls in my prayers
I love you! And I cherish the phone calls and emails from you no matter how sparse
Amy- I am sorry to take your title from you…but I think that I am the youngest one…:)
Well…I guess I can concede that title to you, Christy. Only because I like you, though. But I’m still the youngest MFA! =)
Wow, a three hour phone call! I can’t remember the last time I talked on the phone that long! Man, I used to love doing that. :o)
Hope to hear from you soon!