Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Currie's Gratitude 24 September 2013


A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.  [Elbert Hubbard] 

I love this idea that those who REALLY know me, in all my weirdness, with my quirks and peculiarities, and even my long list of failures and screw-ups, still love me, still call me friend, and don’t just turn tail and run.

Of course, I love BEing one of those people, too. One who loves her friends even more when I know them. It seems far simpler on my end, but then it’s really NOT a thing I spend much time pondering…

The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares. [Henri Nouwen]

I’ve long been a fixer-upper, a sort of first-aid friend who wants to DO something. It has taken a lot of others’ DOing to BE aware that BEing is far more valuable. Still, I have little patience for watching others’ suffering and struggle. But I am getting better. Perhaps simply by BEing more intentional in that regard.

One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood. [Lucius Annaeus Seneca]

Yes. 


I love you, Currie

4 comments:

Julie Jordan Scott said...

I was just talking about this last night with one of my friends: how much I love when I just have people alongside me... even (especially?) alongside me silently. I just had a biopsy yesterday, almost exactly since I had melanoma surgery a year ago. While I am waiting for the results, I am considering how intentional I will make my recovery this time around, if that is necessary. It is very powerful to do so and your words here reminded me of that. THANK YOU!

Rita said...

I still miss by dear friend, Ruby, who died this last February. I like to think she's there with me silently sharing and supporting, as we always did for each other. :)

lorik said...

Beautiful work and words.

Sarah Leonard said...

This is a beautiful sentiment and some gorgeous art. I love it.

Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity