I’ve been struggling with a heavy heart lately… I’m not quite ready to delve into a larger discussion of this topic quite yet.  But someday maybe this can serve as a jumping off point for a larger exploration.

There are almost no guarantees given in this life.  However, there is one inescapable one.  It’s that one day our story will end.  Some of our stories are the epic legends, passed down through the ages, sometimes with ample liberties taken in the retelling.  Others are too short, leaving the audience lamenting that the end came too soon.  And then there is the section of the library of life, where most of us sit, a few remarkable pages of great adventures, but mostly the day to day building of character.

Almost all our stories involve other characters.  Life is not a solo tale.  Our tales are filled with heroes and villains, and everything in between.  Some characters drive the plot, others build the scene.  Some are fleeting, some last through a series of chapters, and some pop in amongst the pages at random times.  

Sometimes we are fortunate to have our stories intersect with another life traveler’s story via chance meeting and a friendship develops over the course of the pages.  This is one such story.  And as I write this, one of my pivotal characters, is nearing the end of her chapter.  I am fortunate to have had her in my story, helping build my character and teaching by example the finer points of friendship.  This friend has provided great service to those who have had the privilege to call her friend.  And she could give a masterclass in living life with grace and love.

It’s a sad ending, much too soon for my liking and it’s neither of our choice to end our story here or say our final farewells… it’s heartbreaking.  But when the final word is written in my dear friend’s story, I will endeavor to carry all I have learned from my beautiful friend into the rest of my chapters.  She will continue on as a muse as I aspire to carry her legacy and lessons on the finer points of friendship into my future relationships.

So as my dear friend approaches that one constant in life, I have hope.  Hope that today, and for how many days we continue to have left, she will know she has made a difference in my story, even in future chapters.  And more importantly, she is loved now and always.