Ribbons of Tears

"Oh, what a beautiful card!" My ears tuned into my Handmaiden leader's voice of praise as she admired the greeting card that my classmate, Jessica had just completed.
I had been attending Handmaidens for a few weeks now, and was really beginning to enjoy my time spent there, even if my 7th grade class had only two girls-Jessica and myself.
This particular week, we were making greeting cards for the saints in outlying areas, as well as a few for the pastorate. I was overjoyed by this, for I am a very crafty person, but am also a perfectionist. I was just starting to decorate my plain ivory paper when I heard someone start to tap on the glass door.
My hazel eyes drifted from my work to the door, catching sight of a girl standing outside, waving at us. I made a mental note that she was probably a couple of years older than me, and about one to two inches taller.
Casually waving back to her, I returned to my work, assuming that she was one of Jessica's friends. Then it hit me.
"Mrs. Smith, may I go see her for a minute? Please?" How could I not recognize her?
After receiving permission, I quickly made my way out the solid glass door, immediately spotting Brianna-my best friend, whom I hadn't seen for two years.
"Brianna!!" I was almost crying. This girl and I held such a special relationship-always knowing each other's thoughts, feelings, and emotions before a single word was ever spoken.
"Hi!" She opened her arms as I came closer. As I met her warm embrace, I felt sure that nothing could ever break up apart.
'Thank you, Father...' This wonderful moment I knew would remain in my memory for years to come. Time just seemed to stop for those few seconds, but we finally pulled away from each other's arms.
As I looked her over, the joyous smile that crossed my clean face turned to a frown, as I realized why I hadn't recognized my well-known and dearly beloved best friend.
Make-up masked her face-eye shadow hid her gorgeous dark brown eyes; Lip-gloss coated her lovely red lips. Glancing over her clothing, my inward frown deepened. Her dark blue jeans hung at least six-inches below their proper place at her waist, and her ivory top's V-neck was much too low.
"My, you look...different." I wanted to ask her where the girl that had always been there for me when I cried, the girl who I trusted with my most cherished secrets, the girl I spent half my life knowing, and loving more than anyone else I knew. The girl I thought would never end up like all the others-of the world.
We talked for a few minutes, exchanging random bits of current news until she had to leave. Embracing once again, she departed, walked out to her van, as I headed back inside the building to finish my card.
Taking my seat at the table we were working at, I grabbed a marker out of the aluminum bucket half way down the table. As I started to add a border to my rather plain card, Jessica spoke up.
"How do you know Brianna?" She spoke, continuing to put the finishing touches on her, in my opinion, very creative card.
"She's my...best friend..." I answered her question honestly.

That night when we arrived home, I set my things down on my rather large wooden corner desk and headed downstairs to my room in the basement. Falling on my twin-sized bed, I prayed for the Lord to grant my guidance, and the strength to overcome the trials that have, and are being sent.
As I lied in bed that night, memories of the many joyful days the two of us had spent together flooded into my mind, and at that very moment, I knew that this was happening for a reason. Just like when Grandma's extremely noisy, yet sweet dog-King passed away after being hit by a car.
Just like God promised in Romans 8:28-"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."

Yes, this was a rough experience, but I knew that it would work out. With a promise like that, how could I ever feel I would never be happy again?