This sounds like the beginning of a really lame (potentially awesome) joke, but, honestly, it's more a description of the circus that is the parade of people who waltz in and out of your life.
And, as random as it can sometimes seem, it is anything but.
The Lord knows exactly who we need in our lives; whether it's our turn for a trial or a blessed tender mercy, whether it's a fool or a friend.
The thing is, even though He knows why we need who we need when we need them, it isn't always easy for us to see the whole score.
It isn't even always easy to recognize how these people marched into your life.
Because sometimes they don't march.
Sometimes they glide in during a time when the only logical choice is to make them a part of your life.
Sometimes they seem to melt out of obscurity as you randomly--happily--find yourself constantly in their company.
And sometimes, they finally slip easily into the piece of your life they've been meant to occupy the whole time.
However they arrive--whether by march, glide, melt, or slip--you're never really quite the same after they have. They each leave their mark on you; good, bad, joyful, painful....
It's hard to be grateful for the painful experiences; the clowns, fools, and pains-in-the-rear.
It's much easier to be grateful for the diamonds you've found amidst the coal.
They teach you.
They love you.
They support you.
They entertain you.
They'd take a bullet for you.
You trust them with your life.
And, what's more than that, you trust them with your secrets.
You trust them to teach you--no matter how stubborn you are.
You trust them to love you--no matter how much they know about you.
You trust them to catch you every single time you're pushed or tempted to jump.
You trust them to leave you in constant stomachaches and tears of laughter.
You trust them to deflect not only bullets, but bombs, lasers, missiles, pebbles, arrows, and rotten vegetables.
I've never really been sure what the exact definiton of a best friend is...
...but I'm fairly certain the job description includes
Listening.
Inside-joke creating.
Advising.
Shoulder-offering
&
Loving.
And is usually accompanied by little things like
Lending cars.
Sharing pickles.
Waking after 4 hours of sleep to give rides to class.
Speaking without having to say one word.
Offering momentary refuges in the form of couches.
Speaking in unison.
Situation-applicable hand signs.
Text support 24/7.
Video chats.
Acknowledgment of the unfortunately necessary idiots.
Knowing when to listen and when to rant with.
Picture messages.
Speaking in well-understood code.
Standing behind, beside, or in front during battles.
Talking for hours.
Loss of free time due to just enjoying being together.
Sacrifices of time, money, energy, and sleep.
Comfortable silences.
Gut-busting laugh fests
&
Constant--though varied--affirmations of love, care, and support.
It's a tough job. And you'll find there aren't many that are up to taking it on.
But those that are,
have been given for a reason.
And that's no joke.
((W.O.W. I love you guys.))
Oh my gosh Brennan. You are so good as expressing how I feel about our friendship too. I love thte list of things you have. I smiled at every single one of them. Sleep on my couch whenever you want. I would be angry if you ever stopped sending me picture messages. Never stop making me laugh. I would say you can always have one of my pickles but I have become stingy about food lately.... friggin hormones...
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