What Matters Most

It’s finally summer

I’ve been laughing all day

and now I’m watching the sky turn amber

I’m so happy I could shout hurray

even though I know my sun burn

will hurt tomorrow

But tonight whether that warmth is a joyful glow or harmful sun rays, I can’t discern

I’m propped up on my elbow

talking the night away with all of you

about anything and everything

and who knows what will ensue?

I listen and I remind myself of something,

These are the good old times

this is what matters and what matter most

Though others try to convince me otherwise, even ofttimes

They couldn’t be more wrong in the uttermost.

You, my dear friends

are life and make the destination all the more meaningful

True godsends

So thank you for your company and the day so beautiful.

Pexels

Life Actress Number One

I recently received 642 Tiny Things to Write About and I will try to post some of my responses to the prompts. Here is one: Describe something about your best friend that is often under-appreciated.

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You and I have a running joke that you are “Life Actress Number One”

When life isn’t awesome

you don’t let it show

you entertain others with your lively stories

you encourage others with your joyful smile

you let others escape into a world of puns and clever comebacks

you tell others that the world and their lives will be okay

You put on a performance

and dance

and sing

and listen

and hug

and joke

for others,

without letting them see behind the movie screen.

Yet when life is a one-way street,

of only encouraging others,

who encourages you?

Who tells you that the world and your life is going to be okay?

Who gives you a hug?

Who listens to you?

Who smiles for you?

I will and I always will.

I am thankful that I am one of few lucky people

who can see behind the silver screen

who you can tell your crazy life to

who you can trust

who you do not have to entertain

(but I always like it) 🙂

I am thankful that

you are not an actress in our friendship

that we are unscripted.

Sixty Years Older

I think that if my Grandma and I were the same age that we would be friends, maybe even best friends. She is sixty years older than me but I can just imagine either me going back to the 1950’s or her growing up now. I think when I would first meet her it would be that type of experience where you say to yourself, “I want her to be my friend”. She is playful and Christian and funny and clever and quirky and smart and noble and a tom boy and resilient and confident and joyful and faithful and trustworthy and optimistic and kind and a hard worker and brave and respectful and marches to her own drummer and easy to talk to and fun and thoughtful and always has a song in her heart and independent and positive.

She has all the qualities of a perfect friend and all the qualities of who I want to be.

Maybe I’ve been looking for a best friend who is just like my Grandma — and hopefully I know I’ve found her. But it would be nice to have more people like my Grandma at my school, or rather more in the world.

Maybe it’s unfortunate that my Grandma and I weren’t born in the same era or maybe it is perfect that way. I may not have her as my high school best friend but I have her as my role model who is only a phone call or a short car ride away. I would love to have her as my best friend but I love it even more to have her as my Grandma.

I Am So Glad

I am so glad that I don’t have a friend who worries about having the in-style jeans,

but instead she has the seemingly out-of-style response of actually answering truthfully when asked “How are you?”

I am so glad that I don’t have a friend who is concerned about having blonde highlights in her hair,

but instead having the highlights of kindness, respect, love, and joy in her life.

I am so glad that I don’t have a friend who listens to the ‘dirty music’,

but instead jams out to Christian artists.

I am so glad that I don’t have a friend who constantly complains that “Life sucks”,

but instead she complains that too many people are ungrateful for how amazing life is here.

I am so glad that I don’t have a friend who is obsessed with money,

but instead she is obsessed with raising money for her charity 30 Famine for starving children.

I am so glad that I don’t have a friend who complains about school,

but instead makes me realize time and time again how I appreciate my education.

I am so glad that I don’t have a friend who is distracted by boys,

but instead knows what to focus on and unwilling to change her boundaries.

I am so glad that I don’t have a friend who goes ga-ga over Cure for Wellness

but instead geeks with me about The Lego Batman Movie.

I am so glad that I don’t have a friend who anxious about her make-up being top-notch

but instead cares about top-notch values.

I am so glad that I have you,

my best friend.

Pixabay/user:Mary_L

I Thanked God for You Today

I thanked God for you today

I thanked Him for your smile

I thanked Him for your silliness

I thanked Him for your patience

I thanked Him for your understanding

I thanked Him for your spunk

I thanked Him for your optimism

I thanked Him for your funniness

I thanked Him for your excitement about life

I thanked Him for you being a Christian

I thanked Him for your support

I thanked Him for your wittiness

I thanked Him for you

I would want to say that I thank Him for you everyday

but gratitude is such a fickle emotion

And so now, in one of those surpluses of appreciation

I want to tell you that I care about you

and that I am so glad that you are in my life

You truly are sunshine to my rainy days

and stars in my night.

I thanked God for you today, my dearest and best friend.

Pixabay/user:Mary_L

We Must Be Best Friends ~ Tanka Poems

I love the little

things about you, my dear friend

How we get each other

I smile and you understand

We must be best friends

***

Just an hour with you

can keep me happy for days

Your sunshine clears clouds

I take a break from the world

We must be best friends

Pixabay/user:Mary_L

Old Friend

Old friend, I came to visit you a few days ago

I walked down the familiar, unforgotten halls

and I saw your face,

your smile,

to be exact.

We shared greeting of hugs and ‘Oh my, has it been long’

Pulled up chairs and chatted

Shared stories and excitedly dreamed of summer

Talked of theater and the future

Conversations vary from cultures to cranberries

Nothing is guarded,

nothing about my life is hidden away

I love how I am able to be so candid around you

I am open before you because of years

of smiles

and lessons,

conversations

and letters.

I am so glad we are friends,

old friend.

There is no one like you,

nor shall there ever be.

This,

right now,

is where I want to spend my time,

laughing, happy, content,

comforted by the words of my old friend.

I cannot imagine my life if we did not meet,

undoubtedly it would be worse.

I love how you know so much about me,

you know more than what I say,

but what I left unsaid,

and what I wish I could tell you.

You understand my pauses

and movements to express what cannot truly be put into words.

Thank you,

my dearest old friend.

Minutes climb up the walls

and soon it is time to leave.

We part ways with once again a hug

and you comment on how I am young, beautiful and happy,

every time.

Thank you,

my dearest old friend

for simply being yourself

and for every second we share

together.

 

Pixabay/user:Mary_L