So Thankful my Life is Blessed with Friends

This week friends helped me realize I am not alone. As I've mentioned for what seems like forever I've felt alone. Now looking back I know it was Satan working on me. It was a self-defeating process, and I thought the worst rather than sought the best. 

With all the crap that's been going on it's helped me to realize that not all friends are created equal. Some will say they have your back when they don't. They will be your friend as long as it's the "popular" thing to do but will quickly abandon you when you are struggling. They offer friendship when it's convenient for them rather than unconditionally.

And I've decided to be a lot more selective who I turn to let in my circle. I don't want to get hurt, and I don't want to hurt others. I want to be loved in return unconditionally when I make foolish mistakes just as much as I want to be love when my life is humming along. 

Friendship should be unconditional. No limitations.  No hesitation. That doesn't mean they should always agree with me. Not the case at all. But I now want to surround myself only by those who will not judge me, will love me, and will help me to choose the right. That's not too much to ask.

I would want to do the same for them too. No matter what. 

This week a few of my friends helped me to remember how loved I am, that I am of worth, and I do make a difference. 

Cami sent me the below image just yesterday. She and I have been the closest of best friends nearly all our lives - for the better half of it at least. She has been with me through thick and thin. She has seen me fall more times than any, and she's been there to celebrate just as quickly in my successes. I could not ask for a better lifelong non-judgmental friend. 

Then the other day my cute friend Heidi linked me to this image. I am so thankful she thinks of me this way. I want to be the friend who checks in, who touches base, and means a lot. She is one I've always felt such a connection with. Even when life got really difficult for her for a period of time, I loved her. I missed her, but I loved her, and I am so thankful we have found our way back. And I am thankful she has been there for me when I have needed her.







And then Kris. She is so incredibly Christlike. She is beautiful inside and out. She is happy, positive, and she always thinks and does for others before she does anything for herself. Struggling too with her own issues, she is quick to check in to see how I am doing, and for that I am so very thankful. I love her. She stopped by just out of the blue with one of my favorite treats - Cookie Butter. It was the very fact she was thinking of me. 

Every day I am getting stronger. I am more confident in my choices. I am happy with my new life. I am no longer surviving moment to moment but at taking resposibility for my actions and am choosing deliberately what I do with my time, how I spend it, and who I spend it with. 

At first the hardest part was letting go of those who I thought were important to me, but it's since gotten easier. My rule is, if they don't bring me joy, lift me up, or add to my life positively, they don't need to be in it. Harsh, but true. I don't have time nor the energy for negative feelings, gossip, or friends who suck me dry of happiness. 

And this week I've been blessed by several of my closest friends. And I'm thankful to know I have a few select others who love me and support me equally as much - Kristi, Melody, and Jena being a few. 

I am blessed beyond measure. I am of worth. I am strong. I have faith. And I am ever so grateful to have such amazing true friends in my life. I love each and every one of them, and I hope I can be there for them just like they have been here for me.