The miracle of friendship

I have a friend who is also a wife, mother, daughter, dedicated employee and above all a fiercely devoted friend. She's my hero. And, yet, I didn't always feel that way about her.

Several months back we were involved in the same work and we were not understanding each other's point of view. This was not an argument, this was a fundamental difference in the way we were approaching an ongoing situation. I decided I needed her help. And so I asked her for it. I asked her to help me better understand her perspective and to provide any guidance she was able to with the other folks with her perspective. You know what she did.

She thanked me.

And then after she provided some insight, she asked if I would help her with something, someone in fact.

WOW!

It felt like a breakthrough.

We've since become close friends. I admire her, and her ability to be candid and caring as well as intelligently speak her mind. I've learned so much from her about trusting of myself as a mother, and she has helped me reaffirm that the most important job I have is the one I do at home. Even though I work full-time and sometimes I'm running on empty by the time I get home … being a wife and mother is fiercely important to me.

If the job went away tomorrow, I'd be disappointed in not being able to see the people. But that doesn't compare to the people at home. That's my life.

Yesterday, after a wonderful, leisurely talk with my friend, I said to her, "you're my miracle today - your friendship is my miracle." And she didn't get all flustered and say, nooooo. She said, "And you are mine too! I really needed this time with you today."

The miracle of friendship, real love-that-other-person friendship is to be celebrated. I'm overwhelmed at the depth of some friendships and how the are amazing pieces in the big puzzle I call my life.

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