The Traits of a Good Friend

It’s very windy here today and the internet seems to be sluggish. So, I’ll try to complete this before anything goes wrong. Yesterday, a dear friend came to visit, and I saw how much I really appreciate her. We’re not the kind of friends who go w-a-a-a-y back – I have those too, but this is a friendship that developed in spite of obstacles. Let’s call her Amy. We both belong to the same church and when we were younger, we saw each other there often. Her children were close in age to mine, and they had similar interests. I was involved with PTA and I had friends in that group. Two moms with whom I worked really didn’t like Amy, and while I had no problems with her, I tended to follow their lead. So, our early relationship was in the icy to civil range. We’d see each other at events, but words were never exchanged.

During my tenure as principal, I was asked to head a new committee at my church. Thinking I could fit it into my schedule, I said yes, and went about setting up meetings. To my original chagrin, Amy was a part of this committee. We held one meeting, and she was not only nice and helpful, she was actually likable! As we moved through the work of that group, she and I became closer and spent a great deal of time working together. I really liked her, and I knew the feeling was mutual. We weren’t the kind of friends who spent hours on the phone, or ran to the mall together. We just had a good time in each other’s company. She would hold meetings at her house, and she’d come here to work on projects.

I feared that this would end when we resigned our positions last summer; however, we still kept in touch. She had a rough time last fall when her mother-in-law passed away, and we never went to meetings or events together anymore. Thinking that the glue which held us together had vanished, I asked her to come for lunch over Christmas week. I still sent a cookie tray over and she called to say thanks. Since she needed to babysit for her grandson, we postponed our lunch until last week – then I got sick. So, we finally met yesterday and had a ball. I just had one of my homemade soups, a salad, and a small roll – sounds like Olive Garden! The food was a side issue – we spent nearly three hours talking!! She came a little early –“in case I needed help” – I did. She moves so effortlessly in her helping that I’m not even aware of it, AND she never makes me feel like an invalid. When I mentioned that I missed some of the events – no longer driving – she simply informed me she would pick me up and take me.

This is the kind of friend I treasure! Foreseeing what’s needed and just doing it. She could easily sit back and take it easy, but she doesn’t. I hope I convey my appreciation to her, because she’s one in a million. I wish I hadn’t wasted all those early years. Thanks, Amy!

Peace,
Muff