Friday, August 5, 2011

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. : ) 

5 comments:

Jennifer Jo said...

Wow. To have someone read that to you? What an amazingly powerful gift!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

svea said...

love this post, love you... and is that Sweet G? so special for you both to have time together. Soak up your birthday love =)- svee

Nikki said...

This is so, so beautiful. I love that poem. I love your heart. Happy Birthday, dear lady :-)

tonia said...

what a gift, misha. I love to see the Lord blessing you and pouring out grace. Much love to you on this birthday. (((you))

Unknown said...

and now I am crying as well!