Friends

I have been blessed with some AMAZING friends through the years.  When you go through a loss sometimes we have friends that have 'been there' and get it, sometimes we have friends that haven't walked this road and yet truly seem to understand and other times we have friends who just don't get it.  I have a friend here in Iowa who miscarried her second baby over six years ago.  She has been awesome through the whole thing- truly a friend like Proverbs 18:24 describes it like this, "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."  She is truly that kind of friend.  From the first text I sent her telling her my baby died, to the tears that have often fallen along with mine.  The various hugs she's given (and she is not a 'hugger') to the listening ear.  She's said the right things at just the right time and discerned when to just be silent and listen.  She grieves right alongside of me.  She had a baby 8 weeks ago, a boy.  We'd dreamed of our babies being buddies.  We'd talked about hitting garage sales for all the baby stuff.  We can imagine our two little boys running around, laughing and playing (when they got to be that age of course).  The loss is not just mine.  She feels it too.  Today she gave me the most meaningful gift.  I knew she was planning something to give me "around the time of my due date" but little did I know what it was.  I will share tomorrow a picture and the significance.  Thank you, Lord for such a thoughtful, loving sister in Christ.  Thank you, friend, for being that friend who loves at all times.