My Friend, Mary

I thought I would take some time this week and tell you about some of my friends - how I met them and why they hold such a special place in my heart.  I think that one of the most important things in our lives is our friends.  Sometimes we just need to be reminded how blessed we are to have wonderful friends.  By friend, I mean someone very near and dear to my heart, someone I can trust with my deepest and most personal dreams and disappointments, someone I can just be myself around, someone who I don't have to see or talk to all the time to remain close with - a kindred spirit.

So I think I'll start with Mary.  Mary is probably the friend that I've had the longest.  We met in college - we were actually roommates.  Mary is a "glass half full" kind of girl - always upbeat, positive and friendly.  She could be friends with almost anyone and she always has had a ton more friends than I do.  I wish I could be a little bit more like Mary - not so reserved and careful about people.  Anyway, we met at college and we shared  a lot through the short time we lived together.  She was planning to be a missionary (which she now is in South Africa) and she was dating Brad (who she is now married to.)   She used to go out when it was pouring down rain and jump in puddles all over campus with some of her friends and never once did I join her - what craziness :)  We were both in the college choir and we traveled together for some of the musical productions.  Mary and I - no lie - used to walk around holding hands sometimes (I know that may sound a little weird to you) - because we were just that comfortable with each other.  It was like we were two little girls.  Yes, we did get some looks, but who cares.  Mary and I could sit in the room and talk about life - our families, friends, classes, activities, boys, whatever.  On a clear warm night we would lay on the top of a picnic table looking up at the stars and just talk about whatever came to mind.  We didn't just cover the superficial topics - we opened up and really shared who we were with each other (the good, the bad, the ugly.)  Even though Mary and I had many other friends at college - Mary was my comfortable friend, the one I could always count on when I needed her.  She is the only friend from college that I have stayed close with almost 20 years later.  I know that she has many friends she still keeps in touch with from college because that's just who she is and that's wonderful and is probably the reason that we have stayed close as well.

Now Mary & Brad live across the ocean from me in South Africa.  I just re-connected with her on Facebook and I get to see her kids growing up and hear about her day to day activities.  We don't even chat that much - but our friendship is still as strong as ever.  Each time that Mary comes home on furlough from the mission field we have gotten together and each time it seems like just yesterday that we saw each other, even though it's been years.  I don't have to hide anything from Mary - and she doesn't have to hide anything from me.  We can share our thoughts and opinions, our dreams and disappointments.  We have a deep, abiding friendship.  Mary is a dear friend and a gift from God.  I am so thankful for my friend, Mary!