Building Faith : The value of friendship

Encouragement comes from the most random places, but always at the most precise moment. So, this ones for you, Bran!

One of my greatest talents (or so I believe) is randomly coming up with raps or silly songs that always find a way to rhyme. I come by this talent honestly, as my grandmother is always one to sing about the daily task in a manner that produces much laughter. We don't share this special gift with just anyone though, so consider yourself favored if you have ever, or do one day, receive words in the form of song that make you want to laugh (sing) along. They most often come in the form of birthday wishes.

Today, my dear friend Kelsey turns 25. Because of this monumental, quarter of a century birthday-she got (what may very well be her first but surly not her last) a special birthday rap. She may or may not have cried at its awesomeness. Your welcome. Here's to the birthday girl!

Brandi (my encourager for the day) and I have been through so much, I even briefly mentioned it here a long time ago. Through it all-she still knows me just about as much as I know myself. I love her for that, even if she sometimes has episodes. (Episode: when you see someone freak out, oftentimes in a public setting, over pretty much nothing)

Meet Brandi.

There are so many people that have made me better for knowing them throughout my life. The good and the hard times all molded me into who I am and who I continue to become. When times are hard and relationships are strained, you learn and grow from them.

You make the choice each day to allow your circumstances to effect you, you also make the choice of HOW they will effect you. Because of this, we need to remember that even when things seem impossible or relationships seem not worth it - or if the time comes that they must come to an end, we learn from every single one of them. We learn about life. We learn of things that work and things that don't. We learn to love.

I am beyond thankful for friendships that have carved me into the best version of myself. I am thankful for girlfriends who understand what makes me tick, guy friends who are willing to plunge toilets or hoist me onto a billboard just so I can take a picture, parental figures who push me to be my best, children that look up to me-therefore keeping me in remembrance to always be myself, mentors who faithfully lead, daddy's who fix cars, brothers who irritate you, friends who watch cheesy TV shows with you, who study with you, who sit on the porch and do nothing but sing Conway Twitty songs over and over, friends who take random road trips just to eat dinner in another city, who come in the form of family, who hug, who will drive your car because you don't want to, who take you on your first casino trip and convince you to blow all of the cash you brought on a "Grease" machine, who support your dreams, who donate money to send you half way around the world, who bring you gas when you run out, friends who will forever have the name "kiddo" when they come mind, who convince you to stalk old flames, who make it through the awful fights and come out stronger, friends who have 4 legs, friends who cook for you, who eat the food you cook-even when it's burnt, friends who climb mountains with you-figuratively and literally, who sew your Halloween costumes, who have been there since elementary, who will lay on the kitchen floor and cry about your problems with you, who help clean up tornado damage with you, who apologize, who forgive, friends who impact you-who change you-who encourage and influence you.

Friends who love you, for you. Friends who pray for you.

If you don't soak in any of what I've already mentioned, hear this: you need people who are not only willing-but desire-to pray for you. Those are the truest of true friends.

I will say it time an time again, the people you surround yourself with will gratefully affect the kind of person you turn out to be. Take a look around- look in the mirror. If you don't like what you see, you are the only one who can make a change.

So here's to friendship and the value you place on it.

All of those mentioned, you know who you are and where you fit.Thank you for being you and letting me be me. More importantly, thank you for keeping all of those embarrassing moments just between us (most of the time).

Flashback Friday, anyone?