Stories for 100 Days of Writing

My Friend

I have a very special friend who I've known for more than twenty years. She's the gentlest woman I know; so many people turn to her when they are in trouble, and she never judges.

When I first knew her, I remember being in a very dark place in my life and she gave up her lunch hour to come and talk to me. I told her what had happened to me as a child, and even though I knew none of it was my fault, I felt that I was worthless and no use to anyone. After listening to what I had to tell her she looked at me and said 'Now do you think I love you any less', I had to say no, I knew at that point she genuinely cared.

It's not been plain sailing, for her that is, I wasn't an easy case, so to speak, but along with her husband, she picked me up, dusted me off and just cared. She has been my mentor and I've gone from occasionally playing the piano at Church to now leading the Worship Team. My friend had led Worship for years before I even knew her, and I looked up to her, even put her on a pedestal at times, but she passed her knowledge on to me and I've learned an amazing amount from her, with very little effort on either of our parts, it was natural. We now make each other laugh, and cry at times, we go out and eat and tempt each other to puddings that neither of us should really have. I remember that while we were all at a Christian celebration, she took my fourteen-year-old son's hand trying to hold it, just to wind him up. He ran a mile, or at least he tried, by the end of the time spent there, the two of them were skipping across the grass together arm in arm like a boy and his grandmother. I once said she could talk the hind leg off a donkey, my son said don't be silly she can talk all four legs off the donkey.

She has brought out the best in me, I think all I've done is challenge her and care for her. She had to get over the loss of her husband and I tried my best to be there for her. The first time she came back to Church afterwards, I tried to be gentle with her and all that did was make her cry, the one thing I was trying not to do. I knew that she was a very private person and I was certain that she didn't want to cry in front of everyone. As it was, that day, she cried on everyone, the blessing she had been for everyone else was returned tenfold that day and in the days that followed.

She is now finding herself again and our friendship has strengthened and grown, I sometimes wonder what I would do without her, and I know I would be lost. I am a better person for having her in my life, as are so many others. I pray that she will be around for a long while to come.