the toenail An Important Part Of The Whole

God has blessed me with a friendship that has gone the distance, plus some.  I am so thankful!

Pattie and I became friends in the 2nd grade.  It was an instant connection.  She’s was an only child.  So was I!  Her middle name was Lynn.  So was mine!  We were like two peas in a pod.  That was more than 30 years ago.  If you asked her, she could probably tell you exactly how many years that has been, because she is good with numbers that way.  Me?  I just know it’s been forever and I can’t remember life without her.

my 12th birthday party

at Indigo Joe’s, some 30 years later

We do life together!

From elementary school through college, and from Teen Beat crushes through real life relationships, we’ve Spring Break’ed together, sun baked together and “boogied and shaked” together.  We were kids at Ebenezer many, many moons ago and now we attend Sunday School together at the same church.  Our friendship has weathered all sorts of things, including a few periods of separation due to this thing or that.  Stuff happens.  But we’ve always managed to pick up where we left off without wondering what it was in the first place that caused a brief riff in our friendship.

Pattie is my forever friend.
My soul-sister.
My confidant.

She has been a rock for me too many times to count.

She loves my children unconditionally as if they were her own (and boy, do they love her just as much!).

She is always available, no matter the silliness or seriousness of my call, and she would literally do anything for me.  I know this.  I’ve never questioned this.

For all of these reasons and more, I love her dearly.

This year Pattie has faced some health things.  Life, you know, it keeps on rolling and we have to sometimes confront obstacles and uncertainties head on.  I’m so proud of my friend for how she has gracefully and stoically addressed the things that have come her way.  Today was a very important day – a final day in a long line of flow chart days.  Every appointment and procedure and consultation culminated at 3:15pm this afternoon.  I wouldn’t have been anywhere else but beside my friend.  Together, we waited for some test results.  We laughed.  Fought back tears of what-ifs.  And some of the time, we just shared quiet moments.

God is so good.  He is so, so good!

We knew this as we waited.  We’ve known this throughout the days and months leading up to today.  And we know this now.  Leading up to today, prayers have been lifted for comfort and peace, for an understanding that can’t be explained.  As the day arrived, deep down, I know that Pattie was ready to accept whatever may be next, because our God does not make mistakes.  He is just and righteous and loving.  His Word tells us that He has scripted out plans for us.  When you understand this – really, really understand what His promises entail – every day’s ending is a good one.

Pattie has been my friend since 2nd grade, and I look forward to seeing many, many more days and months and years together.   There was nothing in those test results to indicate anything less!

Praise God for his healing, grace and mercy.  Every. Single. Day.  And praise God for forever friends and friendships that go the distance, plus some.