Best Friends

I am blessed with having many friends.  God has blessed me with people in my life that love me even though I'm not perfect.  They don't judge me for the things I do wrong, they don't ignore me when I screw up, and if I offend them they don't hate me. They come to me and we work things out.  Friends are one of the greatest blessings in this life, and each of us have one in Christ.

In my life I have had many friends.  Some have stayed with me from the time I was little, some have come and gone, some have been there for a specific instance and then left, and some have been my friends on and off again through out the years.  I think everyone of you can relate to this.  

Friends come and go.  For me it seems like one person is always there at the exact time that I need them, then they might not be in my life for awhile.  God always blesses me with someone at the exact moment that I need them though.  He seems to know what my need is and sends me a friend to be with me, comfort me, love me, make me laugh, hold my hand, and sometimes even cry to.  Whatever I am going through I always have someone by my side; and I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven for providing that comfort for me.

There are some friends that may be there only for brief moment in your life.  It doesn't mean that they are any less special than the long term friends, it just means that they were there when you needed them.  Then there are those friends that you make and they are with you for a lifetime.  Those are the friends I would like to focus on.  The "Best Friends".

I have a lot of friends, but I have very few "Best Friends".  To me best friends are the ones that you make and you just click.  They understand your weird sense of humor, they like the things you like, they laugh at the stupid things that no one but you would, and you have those special inside jokes with them.  They are the ones that no matter what time of day or night it is you can call them up and they will answer.  They are the ones that get that text at 3am telling them that you need a hug and they walk the 2 blocks to your house to hug you.  They are the ones that pick you up when you haven't even asked and take you to lunch because they just had a "feeling" that you needed them.  They are the ones that know when you're sad even if you haven't talked to them in months.  They are the ones that can decode you Facebook posts, and see through the fake happiness.  They are the ones that you get in trouble with, but would never turn the other one in.  They've been there with you in the darkest moments of your life, and they still love you.  They've seen you without make up, in your sweat pants with a box of tissues crying your eyes out, and all they can see is that you need a hug.  They are the friends that you get in fights with and may not talk to for a few months, even years, but will always repair the relationship, and the reason why is because of the bond you have.  Because of the love the 2 of you share there is nothing that can break that friendship.  They are the friends that you consider your family, because in reality, you're truly closer to them than your family.  They are the people that you would rather spend every second of your day with vs. being alone.  They are the ones that you want to come over when you tell everyone else that you don't want any company.  They are your BEST FRIENDS.  For me, these friends are few and far between, but I know they are there for life.  Christ is one of my Best Friends.  He is one of these special people that I sometimes get mad at, sometimes push away, but no matter what he is always there.  

When I was younger Christ wasn't a part of my life.  I didn't have a relationship with him, and the thought of it seemed weird to me.  How on earth could I be friends with someone that I don't see face to face.  Someone that I can't text, or call or, run over to their house to play?  The thought seemed ridiculous and absurd.  Little did I know that later in my life he would become my ultimate best friend.

When I made the decision to come back to the church my relationship with my Savior started to develop. I was very cautious letting him into my life, as I am with every friend that I make.  I'm picky with who I allow into the darkest and brightest parts of my life.  I needed to learn to trust my Savior before I could let him into be my friend.  This didn't happen over night.  

I remember the day I sat in my Bishop's office having my interview to receive my very first temple recommend.  As I was asked the sacred questions I remember being filled with a feeling of love every time I answered that I was worthy.  It was such a touching moment that it brought tears to my eyes.  At the end of the interview my Bishop allowed me to sit there in silence, basking in that feeling of peace and love, before he asked me if I knew what that feeling was.  It was something I had never experienced before, so of course I told him that I didn't know.  He informed me that, that feeling was my Father in Heaven and his Son Jesus, letting me know that I was worthy to enter into their Holy Temple.  That feeling was the spirit of God, and the love that they had for me.  I had never been so honored or so touched in all my life.  I couldn't believe the love that they felt for me.  I knew that if they were willing to give this very special feeling to me that I would never do anything to make it go away.  If they would continue to give this feeling to me, I would not only follow it, but allow them into every part of my life.  I would make them both, my Best Friend.

From that day on I have followed every prompting, every feeling, and every bit of guidance that they have given me.  I know that if I was to ever choose not to follow this feeling, that it would be taken away from me.  I never want this feeling taken away from me, and I never want them to not be a part of my life, so I continue to follow their loving promptings that guide me to do the things that I do.

I remember when I was sick and dying the first year of my marriage.  It was the hardest time of my life physically, but mentally and emotionally it was the most beautiful time of my life.  Everyone told Dave and I that the first year of marriage was the hardest.  Our first year of marriage was the most beautiful.  We were able to see how much we loved each other.  We were able to not sweat the small stuff, because when you're about to lose the person you love those wet towels on the floor don't seem quite as important.  In fact I would miss it so much if one day I woke up and those towels weren't on the floor.  It would mean that my love was gone.  Our first year of marriage built the strongest bond that I have ever experienced.  Dave and I have a marriage that I know is rare, but we have it because we were tested and tried so hard that first year.  Our love is something that can't be touched, tested, or swayed.  I love Dave with all my heart, and I know that, that first year and all we went through was to teach us to lean on our best friend in each other and also our best friend, The Savior.  

Being so ill and not having anyone who understands is difficult, but it taught me to truly allow my Savior to be my best friend.  He was the only person in this world who knew exactly what I was going through.  He was the only one who knew my pain, inside and out.  He was the only one who could hold my hand as I was wheeled into those surgery rooms and say, "I'll be here the whole time, and I understand."  He's the only one that was with me in that recovery room when the nurses couldn't get me to breathe, and he was the one who gave me the choice to either return to him or keep living.  He is the only one who knew what a hard choice that was, and he was the only one that could hold me why I was in that excruciating pain when I started breathing again.  Although my sweet husband has been there every step of the way, my Savior is the only one who truly knows what I go through.

And now today, my Savior is the only person who knows what it's like to throw up on a daily basis.  He is the only one who knows why I scream and cry while I'm laying on the bathroom ground because I'm so worn out.  He listens to me when I cry.  When everyone else is sick of listening, he is there.  He's the only one who knows what it's like to be nauseated 24/7 and still have to do the things you have to do.  He's the only one who knows how great it feels to accomplish a small task like making my bed, or picking up the TV room.  He's the only one that can empathize with carrying loads of laundry up the stairs and being so out of breathe and weak, but knowing that I still have to do it.  He's the only who knows how badly I want to cry sometimes when I'm in a group of people and can't.  He understands my frustrations with daily life, and he never gets sick of listening to me.  I can turn to him for anything and he's never going to push me away or tell me to be quiet.  He is always going to be there.  He always has been there, and he always is there.  All I have to do is ask.

My Savior is truly my best friend.  The great thing about the Savior though, is that not only is he capable of being my best friend in a way that no one else can, but he is capable of being your best friend.  The way he loves and understands and comforts me, isn't just for me.  He is capable of doing the exact same thing for each of you. And the best part is, is that he'll do it whether we are making decisions and choices he wants us to make or not.  He will be there for us whether we are choosing the right or not.  He doesn't have limitations on his friendship.  He's there 100% of the time, all the time, for each one of us.  All we have to do is invite him into our lives. 

I'm thankful for my Savior.  I'm thankful for his love and acceptance of me.  I'm thankful for his friendship and his unconditional love.  Without his love I don't know where I would be.  Without his patience, kindness, acceptance, love, and grace, I wouldn't be alive today.  I wouldn't have the peace and comfort in my life that I have to enjoy today, and I wouldn't have the greatest friend anyone could ever ask for.  

 He will be your friend too.  Invite him into your life.  Allow your heart to give him a chance to trust him.  Give him a shot.  I promise it will be the best decision you will ever make and you will have the greatest friend you've ever had.  Your life will be better, your heart will be softer, and the peace that will come to your life is something that I can't even explain, but it's something you want.  I promise.  Give him a chance to love you.  Give him a chance to be the Best Friend you've ever had.