This afternoon I went to the new Start Trek movie with my hubby. I have to admit that I was not looking forward to going. I was going because I knew he wanted to see it and with everything that has been going on in our lives lately I wanted him to have a few hours doing something he likes. But, who knew, I really liked the movie and it gave me some things to think about. The movie was full of action and suspense, but there was an underlying theme of friendship that really hit me hard. There were a couple of times during the movie that I cried. I left the movie thinking about my friendships and how they affect who I am.
This summer has not been what I expected. We had an event in our family that changed the course of our summer. Something I didn't see coming. Over ten years ago I lost my mother, this event shook me to my core. I am a woman of faith, but loosing my mom tested every bit of faith I had. My husband is my best friend and I couldn't have walked through that time without him. I also had some good friends that loved me, prayed for me and cried with me during that time. A few weeks ago we got the news that my husband's mother has cancer and has very little time left.
BOOM!!!!!!!!! Here we go again.
I have a great friend Donna who asked me if I wanted to get Muny season tickets with her this year. When I agreed to this I had no idea how much I would need that night, once a week this summer. A night to escape to another place and time. So many memories growing up involving the Muny. I grew up in Springfield, Il and we would pick a show and drive to the Muny once each summer while I was young. We would watch some of my favorite musicals and after eating Ted Drewes custard we would fall asleep in the back seat on the drive back home.I love my friend Donna, she has walked through the last ten years with me as we have both struggled with life and circumstances.
I also have a friend Kass, we met over sixteen years in the book business. I love this woman. She recently moved to Texas and I miss her like crazy. As fate would have it we have two daughters that miss each other too. I need to let Hannah FaceTime more with Eli because she misses her. Kass is the friend who saw me when I was a mess after my divorce and loved me anyway. She helped me gain back confidence in who I was as a woman and what I could do.
My third friend is Rhonda, I met her over five years ago when I taught her daughter. Rhonda is a survivor. She has survived two kinds of cancer and other life events as well. I love my lunches with Rhonda! Whenever we get the chance (which hasn't been near enough lately) we get together and chat about our lives and our kids and eat good food and just enjoy each others company. She is a
good thing that came out of a bad time.
Then there is my friend Ann. We met over three years ago and share the fact that our two kids kind of like each other. We have had great dinners out and shared many glasses of wine together. We have road-tripped to soccer games together. We don't see each other as much as I would like because of our schedules but when we do, we always have a good time. I know I can call her and ask her to pray for me and she will. In fact, everyone of my friends I talked about here are women of faith and that
blesses me.
So as I walk into the darkness, I am thankful I have theses women by my side to help light the way.
And as my friend reminded me, I do know the Light in the darkness. My friends help me see His light everyday.
