Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Friendships

My sister is my best friend. That should really be in all caps! I can't (& don't want to) imagine my life without her. She had a nightmare the other night. It seemed that I was ready to move on. I was moving out and I told her goodbye. I've had nightmares like this myself and they are totally ridiculous and will never happen. Even if one of us does move away from each other some day. We laugh alike, we talk alike and enjoy doing the same things. Except marathons. I am NOT a marathon fan. But I will cheer her on every one she does!
I have been amazingly blessed to have her. But not just that. Many posts ago, I wrote about The Sistas. They are four women who have become sisters to me. Somehow, my brother happened to find my 'non-biological' sister & marry her. In my multiple moves throughout the South, I have made many friends that I can now reconnect with via FaceBook.
But recently I've been wondering. Are all of these relationships life-long? What about when one life is over, and you're left longing for one last heart to heart? What about the hurts and miscommunications that sever a bond that wasn't meant to be broken. What about the times that time and distance weaken the bond. How do we survive such hurts?
Saying goodbye to a friend is a painful process. Watching them die the burying them is a pain that will never recover. Watching them step back from you and become distant actually rips something vital from your heart. Would we change the past if we knew then what we know now? If we could, think of all we would lose! It would make every tear worth crying. Maybe it wouldn't be any easier to live, but it would change the fabric of our lives.
I just heard an old Tricia Yearwood song that says it beautifully. Now the writer may have meant a different kind of relationship, but it so applies!
"I Would've Loved You Anyway
"If I'd've known the way that this would end
If I'd've read the last page first
If I'd've had the strength to walk away
If I'd've known how this would hurt...
[Chorus 1:]I would've loved you anyway
I'd do it all the same
Not a second I would change
Not a touch that I would trade
Had I known my heart would break
I'd've loved you anyway
It's bittersweet to look back now
At mem'ries withered on the vine
But just to hold you close to me
For a moment in time...
[Repeat chorus 1]
[Bridge:]And even if I'd seen it coming
You'd still've seen me running
Straight into your arms
[Chorus 2:]I would've loved you anyway
I'd do it all the same
Not a second I would change
Not a touch that I would trade
Had I known my heart would break
I would've loved you anyway
I would've loved you anyway