Friends

Friends are one of the first joys we have in our lives.  It is a rare person who hasn't watched as two little strangers meet up on a playground in a park, only to be the best of friends within minutes.  Children are rarely bothered by looks or gender, economic status or ethnicity,  beliefs or nationality.  If someone is smiling, they smile back.  If someone is sad, they want to help fix it.  To a child, friends are simply 'all the other people in the world'.  That is so wonderful in some ways, but incredibly shallow...child-like.

As we grow up, we learn to filter and screen and eliminate some of those people, and our friends become something altogether more valuable and precious.  Maybe there aren't as many of them.  Maybe there are precious few.  But those people are cherished and treasured in our lives. In the last few days, I have had the joy of spending time with some of the most precious people in my life.  

One of them is someone with whom I share a lifelong dream of writing a book.  She is quite a bit ahead of me on her book, but she is always a source of inspiration and encouragement.  She is always there to keep me focused, to answer questions, even to prod me forward when I need it.  I don't get to see her nearly as often as I would like. It's likely my book would get done faster if I did.  But Sherah is irreplaceable.  

Another is one of my business partners.  She always has some encouragement for me.  She and I review our goals together and plan for the future and growth of our business together.  She is there in the trenches with me when I get bogged down, always reminding why we do what we do, and always helping me keep my next goal in front of me.  She doesn't accept average from me, because she knows I'm better than average.  But she's always there to remind me I'm better, when I need it.  She's like my own personal cheerleader, although I'm SURE Leah would bop me over the head with them if I got her a set of pom-poms....

One of my most precious treasures of a friend has been a mentor to me for years, now.  She is where I turn for guidance with the 'big things' life throws at me.  And she has been so steadfast and loyal.  She is the voice of calm stability when the sky is falling.  She is the one who rushes in to the situation when my life is on fire and helps me figure things out when everyone else might be running the other direction.  She has been an irreplaceable source of growth to me, and I am so blessed to have Renee in my life.  

Very dear to my heart is my friend who is running along side me as Jamie and I build our business.  She and her husband have a business as well, and while each business has it's own goals and plans, it's become a kind of friendly competition between us.  She is a utter professional, and she is such an inspiration and motivation as a friend.  She is a determined goal-setter, and it's always a challenge keeping up with her, but I love that about her, because it keeps me on my toes, and keeps me moving ahead on those days when I really would rather hibernate.  It's so awesome to have a pace-setter like Kendra in my life!

One of the dearest friends I've ever had is someone who was originally a Navy buddy of Jamie's.  He came over to hang out with Jamie, and we've been the dearest of friends ever since.  I can always count on him to share a new piece of music, or a new composer.  To express a point of view I hadn't thought of or delve into a philosophical controversy with me.  We share a love of piano and art, of country and family.  I don't get to talk to him often, either, but it's like an oasis in my day when I get a few minutes to chat with Tom.  

God has blessed me with many friends.  But these few give such special things to my life, and have been such a blessing, that they are my everyday joy today.