I recently thought I’d lost a friend. Not due to distance, change of circumstance, lack of interest or any sort of falling out – but in one of the worst kind of ways.
I’ve previously mentioned him with humorous anecdotes of past encounters but until these past few weeks, I had no idea how much our friendship had grown, how much his presence in my life meant to me. It took the possibility of losing him for me to recognize this.
When I finally had the opportunity to speak with him again, he gave me that huge, disarming smile of his. I returned it with my own instantaneous, heartfelt one.
“I was worried,” I admitted.
“So was I,” he replied, grinning.
He’d made it through a frightening medical crisis. He will never be fine – but he is okay. He is still with us.
When others joined our conversation, I stood back and observed him talking and laughing and was suddenly struck by two thoughts – I love him and he is precious to me. Not love in the romantic sense but in the sense of truly caring for a genuine, compassionate person. Someone who – for whatever reason – finds me delightful, enjoys my company and lets me know that.
I had been taking all this for granted for a very long time. And one should never, ever take such a friendship for granted. They are rare.
What have I been doing with my feelings these past few years? Keeping them bottled up in an attempt to protect myself? Content to live in the realm of fantasy? Are there others who have become part of my life I take for granted? I hope not. It shouldn’t take such a scare for me to appreciate such blessings.
I’ll now be keeping my eyes and my heart open – although still with some degree of caution. Some barriers need a little more time for dismantling.
15 comments:
We do take so many things for granted. Glad your friend made it through his crisis.
We should never let ourselves take anyone important to us for granted. I am so glad you and he have rediscovered each other.
Friends and family - people we often take for granted. I'm glad that your friend is okay but more so that you recognize the blessing he is in your life. Sometimes a near miss is exactly what we need to reposition our focus on what really counts. :o)
It's all so true. Every bit. The people we take for granted and the walls that remain - need to remain. Relationships and love of every kind. So complicated and so treasured!
yupper... one needs to show true appreciation for the real friends we have, there are only so many in one lifetime, usually no more than a handful....
Again, a good reminder....on that note Nomad being here this weekend has been fabulous.
No thing is a bad thing if it wakes you up and makes you appreciate what is around you. I agree, friends aren't a dime a dozen, they are precious commodities.
I'm glad you have a friend like this, and glad that he made it through his crisis.
There are few friends who we actually love.
The way you are telling the story is very touching. It takes some courage to go past the things we take for granted!
Long live your friendship :)
it's easy to be lazy and take things for granted.
but when you think of it, being able to take something for granted is a blessing.
It's sad that it is something major that makes us take stock again...it's a wonderful lesson. I think we all learn this the hard way.
Sadly, I think it is a human tendency (if not trait) to take things for granted. I think that difficult and/or tragic events have the silver lining of shaking things up for us . . . and allowing us to see/feel what is important.
Maybe we can appreciate each other for who we are because we are not consciously assessing how wonderful they are but incorporating them into the flow of our lives.
oh Beth....so beautiful. I'm so happy that your friend made it through his crisis and more than that, that you realized how much you love him.
This post really struck a chord with me.
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