Gift of Grief.

Bekah and I sat for dinner this week. As we lingered over our dishes, I was so frustrated, knowing and feeling that I had nothing to give. This is a long story, but to keep it short... literally, I was feeling like I had nothing left to give. On any level, to any one, in any way. No words, no "thinking of you gifts," no encouragement, and no listening ear. My heart could only take so much and I had (still have) to live in my only little world for a while and put stop signs up around everything else.

So in her own grief and in mine, I sat frustrated and weary with myself because I had nothing to give. In response, her words were so sincere, "Your gift is your grief."

It is an understanding.

Today I needed to call my dear friend Kate. She responded to my dial with weighty sobs and a heavy heart. In asking why, she replied, "I was crying for you." Her pain in empathy smoothered over me.

This is the touch that digs deep into my garden of friendship.

Knowing one cares so deep that they are covered and empathy-bathed in my hurt, yearning deeply to be at my side and walk with me through it.

And so, again, I am thankful. For these friends like Bekah and Kate who give the gift of grief.

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P.S. to these friends... Bekah & Kate, I hope its okay that I used your name and these words so specifically here. I try to abstain from revealing others vulnerability in my own words (blog), but your gift to me was such that I felt it was okay to publish you friendship. Thank you.