To My Dear Friends

I have recently been reminded of how lucky I am to have you in my life. You are women who have shown me how to be a good mother, a good friend and a good person. You are strong and committed to living dedicated lives even in the face of adversity. I have seen you deal with cancer, death, depression, anxiety, loss, financial struggle and divorce. I know you have struggled in silence with much more.

You are my friends from high school and college, neighbors and co-workers, women I have served with in church callings, my aunts and cousins, and some lucky chance friendships. You are my sisters and my mother.

Many of you I rarely get to see. But when I do, I am grateful that our friendship remains strong. You have given me strength, hope, love, support, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on and a much needed break from my children.

Several months ago in a testimony meeting at church a man in our ward bore his testimony. He is someone who I always love to hear from and so I was paying particular attention (something that does not always happen). He talked about the recent baby blessing of one of his grandchildren and how he was struck by the image of all the men in the circle and by extension all the friends and family in the room, holding and buoying up the new baby. I was pregnant with Matthew at the time and found myself picturing his blessing a few months away and wanted to remember this beautiful image of people surrounding, loving and supporting him. Sometime after he died, I thought of this idea again. Although instead of him being supported in the circle, it was me.

That is not to say that I haven’t at times felt lonely and forgotten. I have. But particularly in those first few days, I felt a wave of support and love. Some from acts of kindness (cards, flowers, food) and much, I think, from prayers, both our own and those of others. The prayers of other LDS family and friends, of the Catholic co-workers of my sister, of my very strong Christian Reform friend in Illinois and I am sure many prayers we didn’t know were being said in our behalf.

I have not always understood what it takes to be a good friend. I am resolving to do better. What I have learned is that even when we don’t see each other for months or even years, when the time comes to help and support each other, that is what friends do. We buoy each other up, we talk, eat, shop, listen, pray, cry, dance, laugh, love. Whatever it takes.

You all have blessed my life in countless ways. And to you my friends I say, thank you.

Love, Sarah

Disclaimer: I discovered that most pictures I have are of my kids and not of my friends, I apologize that I was not able to find pictures of everyone I wanted.