Valentines Day 2

I love:

Good friends, both past and present.

Good friends really are the spice of life. I know this because my life has been something to savor because of them. Although I would not claim to be, or have been, the best friend in the world to many of them (I have my faults), and many have likely since forgotten me or moved on, I remember and treasure them all with fondness.

Many have been my best friend, sister, my brother, my confidant, understood me, set me straight, taught me lessons, broke my heart or held it during critical times in life. It is fair to say I would not be who I am today without their influence, and I love them for it. Lessons they have taught me have been invaluable!

In the book The Four Loves by C.S Lewis it reads:

"In friendship we think we have chosen our peers.

In reality, a few years difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another... the topic of conversation being raised, or not being raised at a first meeting; any of these things may have kept us apart, but for a Christian, there are strictly speaking- no chances.

A Secret Master of Ceremonies has been at work. Christ who said to the disciples, 'Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you', can truly say to every group of Christian friends, 'Ye have not chosen one another, but I have chosen you for one another'.

The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of others".


C.S. Lewis was a smart man!

I wish I were as young, social, and as open as I used to be, instead of being so caught up in life or fears, to participate more fully in making and keeping friends. There are so many wonderful people I know, but I shy away from opening the door that would allow them to fully come in. If you feel this from me, I'm sorry, please know I love you!

It seems the older I get, the more afraid I am of loving and losing. Friends seem to move away, and I stay stagnant. My worst fear (and I know this seems pathetic) is that if I let a friend in, they might eventually see the whole me and wonder what the heck they got themselves into!

I love my friends all the same and yet so differently. The list is long and their accolades even longer. Someday I hope to "sit down and write a long letter to all the good friends I've known" but for now, here's a sneak peak at who helped make me me:

Mick- Steven- Iann- Jeanna- Sarah- Michelle- Martine- Megan- Rylie- Brock- Todd- Sara- Brittany- Marcy- Jen- Kristen- Jeanette- Kim- Heidi- Darci- Nancy- Camie- Raul- Taylor- Summer- Camille- Karen- Lisa- Kevin- Lisa- Kami- Melissa- Alisa- Alaina- Andrea- Michelle- Matt- Hafen- Shane- Matt- Chris- Justin- Logan- Brian- Lance- Rani- Sandy- Mecinna- Mistie- Kelly- Cody- Dave- Dustin- Tiffany- Marni- Debbie- Jesi- Rosa- Mary Kaye- Kris- Bonnie- Amy- Annie- Lael- Jessica- Alice- Regina- Ellen- Kim- Judy- Doree- Tonya- Yulia- Clancy- Maurie- Joel- Craig- Jim- Betsy- Lori- Rosie- Liza- Anna- Carolyn- Shelly- Adrienne-

...I'm certain to add more.