“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh?" he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. "I just wanted to be sure of you.”
~A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
Caffeine-induced insomnia, a busy mind, and a full heart have brought me to this place. The writer inside of me can't sleep until I find words to reflect on this very long day. Today I watched a best friend say goodbye to her baby for the last time, as she exhibited more strength than I can ever imagine having (or want to have the occasion to need). Later, I shared chips and salsa with an old friend who always infuses me with encouragement, even on the worst of days, weeks, or months, and I was blessed to be able to rest in the bubble of respite God always grants us during our time together. I was reminded by another soulmate of the blessing of faithful friends...the peace that comes in knowing that "I can be sure of you". All of these special people, and the special places God has carved for them in my heart, reminded me today that true friendship, while hard and messy and challenging at times, is a beautiful gift from God, modeled after His own love for us. Proverbs 18:24 reminds us that "there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother". The kind of friend God calls us to be is one who loves and encourages and offers strength even in tragedy, frustration, and adversity- maybe especially in those times.
I feel like I need to tie my thoughts up in a neat and tidy bow, but the reality is that this life is neither neat nor tidy. And today, life as I know it was extraordinarily messy. I am thankful for my God, who I can always be sure of, even when I am sure of nothing else. And I pray that my precious friends, whom God has privileged me to know, can always be sure of me in the same way.
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