friendships

I was running this morning with a dear friend and said to her: "You know, I just didn't expect to be relearning all the hard stuff still at this age!" But I am. And I appreciate (dearly) all I continue to learn from the amazing women who have given me the gift of their friendships. I am constantly in awe of the beauty in my friends' hearts. It humbles me and teaches me and opens me and allows me to continue to learn more about love.

My gifts this week have come in the form of dear friends. One special one - who I have been friends with since we were my daughter's age - read a poem to me for my birthday. We sat in our running clothes at my kitchen table ready to head out for a sunny morning run. The house was quiet with the kids having just tumbled out the door for camps. She cracked open the book and began to cry as she read. And so did I.

It says exactly what I am thankful for in my beautiful friendships - this week I have a deep gratitude for all the women in my life who are themselves and by being that are such a gift to me.*

Love

by Roy Croft

I love you,

Not only for what you are,

But for what I am

When I am with you.

I love you,

Not only for what

You have made of yourself,

But for what

You are making of me.

I love you

For the part of me

That you bring out;

I love you

For putting your hand

Into my heaped-up heart

And passing over

All the foolish, weak things

That you can’t help

Dimly seeing there,

And for drawing out

Into the light

All the beautiful belongings

That no one else had looked

Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you

Are helping me to make

Of the lumber of my life

Not a tavern

But a temple;

Out of the works

Of my every day

Not a reproach

But a song.

I love you

Because you have done

More than any creed

Could have done

To make me good

And more than any fate

Could have done

To make me happy.

You have done it

Without a touch,

Without a word,

Without a sign.

You have done it

By being yourself.

Perhaps that is what

Being a friend means,

After all.

* And if you are reading this, there is a good chance that includes you. Thank you for your friendship. You are my birthday gift this week. : )