Recently I was honored to be asked by two special people to write a letter of recommendation for them. It didn't take me more than 2.5 seconds to say, "YES!".
As I sat down to type, a flood of memories came rushing back. These were two people that I've known since childhood. And while I could have written a short story about our escapades as teenagers and times shared together way back when, I refrained from revealing those personal moments and instead focused on the adult-version of my friends...who those teenagers became.
As the words flowed from my brain to my fingers I was overwhelmed with how much love and respect I have for them. It was not a challenge in any way to answer the 7 or 8 questions about who they are as people and what defines them.
As I finished up my last sentence, I realized that it shouldn't take a letter of recommendation for me to share the goodness I see in my friends. It shouldn't take someone asking me to volunteer what is in my heart. It shouldn't be at someones funeral that I take time to remember when.
I have been blessed with so many amazing people in my life...I know it, but do they?
16 comments:
What a lovely reminder, Heidi. As my youngest child is officially out of the baby stage (diaper free household being the benchmark), I realize how much my focus has been totally on them-- with little energy for much else. I'm not complaining, when they are young they need you for everything-- and that's about all I had to give. But now that they are becoming more self sufficient, it feels good to have the energy to meet my kids' needs AND reach out in meaningful ways beyond my little family. Can you relate?
Thanks for a great post.
So true! As a single mom, I've embarked the whole "it takes a village to raise a child" philosophy and have told those people how important they are not only to me for my own sanity, but also for Alex. They help pull me away when I'm overwhelmed, help mold Alex into the man I want him to be, help strengthen my faith when I feel that I have none, and hide the sharp objects in my house when I've lost it (hahah) But rarely, do I take the time to verbalize to friends just how much they mean to me.
Isn't that so the truth. Sometimes I think God puts thoughts in our heads that should be shared but we don't say them outloud.
Sometime along the wait I developed the habit of telling young girls how pretty they are. The response is often tears. It is amazing how many of us believe the lies of the world because no one tells us something different.
A great reminder, Heidi.
Oh my ... I can't believe I'm reading this. I was JUST THIS MORNING, writing a letter (handwritten none-the-less) to an old friend whom I love and miss so much, but have lost touch with because our families have grown and time seems to get away from us.
I wrote to her and told her how much I thought about her, how special she was and how I needed her to know those things. I placed a stamp on it and the mail lady already has it in her truck.
I do have another 3 I'd like to write ... maybe I'll put that on the top of my TO DO list.
great idea, heidi! it does seem that we don't express our gratitude for others until they are gone! :0)
Wow how nice. I think I probably know the recipients of your written admiration, but I think this blog post just ices it for them. I always hate perpetuating differences in the sexes but I really think that that those true feelings are something women can express easier than men. Most men do not know how to tell true friends how they feel or know how to respond. I have been very fortunate to have such good friends but I don't think most men do.
The older I get I realize the importance of just telling people how I feel about them, yet it is still a hard thing to do or it gets put aside for another time. This is a wonderful reminder! The week before my grandma suddenly passed away I was able to do just that, tell her how much I loved her and the peace I felt after she died is the peace I want to have with every loved one lost.
Thanks for writing the letter of reference for our adoption, I knew I could count on you! I value our friendship very much and love what you bring into my life.
Teresa: congrats on your adoption. I figured after hearing the news yesterday, I figured that you were one of the fortunate friends to be subject to HJ's writing proficiency. She is so right about how wonderful of a person you have become. Oops I forgot "this is all about HJ.j/k
This made me think of the quote:
"Friends are angels who lift our feet when our own wings have trouble remembering how to fly."
It is so special that God has blessed you with wonderful friends!
This post made me cry. I had a high school classmate who was always kind to me. She even comforted me when my so-called best friends and I had a falling out so close to our graduation day.
I never got a chance to tell her how much her kindness meant to me because I didn't realize then that she was more of a friend to me than the two gals I hung around with throughout high school. We also went our separate ways when we went to college.
It wasn't until five years ago -- when I was told of her death -- when all the memories came back. I will now have to wait until my time is up on this earth to tell her how much she really meant to me.
Good words of wisdom, Heidi.
That is so sweet.
So true...thanks for the reminder!
So true! (PS--Love the new look to the site. How do you come up with so many ideas for it?)
What a great post and great reminder.
Heidi,
You share alot of yourself... You actually do a much better job than most of us! Several of the people who post on your site will probably agree with me that you are a special and wonderful soul.
Teresa and Robb will make wonderful adoptive parents. I'm glad you were able to share your confidence and love for them with the adoption officials.
I was just telling someone about the friends I had in highschool are still some of my most trusted and cherished friends today. They were just amazed at that, but it's true. Teresa, you and Holly are still such a vital part of my life and I am so grateful for that.
I love you!
Carrie
You are soooo right. A few months back I started writing a couple of books full of memories from my childhood to my adult years. One book is for my Dad and the other is for my Mom. I simply write stories about various stories or happenings. I had decided that the only time that these type of things are discussed is when a loved one passes away or something terrible happens and then many times those people never hear or know how you felt/viewed/or remembered certain things.
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