We graduated thinking we had lived life. We meet again 20 years later and we realize the life we thought we had "lived" then was merely a stepping stone to the life we had carried on to live in the next 20 years. Births, deaths, marriages, separations, relocations, and graduations...that is real life. Joy and sadness, wonder and disaster, successes and failures...this is real life. (Chances are, 20 years from now, we will look back and think the same thing!) Heartstrings...connecting, loving, bonding.
"Sorry for the tears," says one friend as she recounts how the last 20 years were not what she had expected, or wanted, for her life. "That's OK. That is your life, that is real. What you lived is real and what you are feeling is real." A wise answer from an even wiser friend. Heartstrings...loving.
As I talked about our journey through Andrew's illness and recovery, I watched a dear friend's eyes well with tears and realized she was mirroring my own eyes. She had heard vaguely of Andrew's story through her brother-in-law who was a pastor out west in our same denomination. A reminder of the breadth of love and support for our family, and a stark reminder of how much I missed her! Heartstrings...bonding.
One friend was telling to me how much she misses her son who has now moved to university for the first time. "I got through the first day of high school. OK, good, that one is done. But now he's at university and I miss him so much!" She finished this thought wondering if it will ever be easy, the distance, the separation, the not having him around the house every day. Later that evening, I was talking with my Mom who was telling me that my brother and his family would be moving to the other side of the world sooner than anticipated. And I watched her fight back the tears. 40 years later, and her mother's heartstrings are still being stretched. It is still hard. It still hurts. So, no, my dear OBC friend, I don't think it gets any easier. Heartstrings...stretching....connecting.
I am so thankful for each person I spoke with that day. Each one holds a little piece of my heart. The bonds that were formed so many years ago are the bonds that hold us together even now. Maybe even a little bit stronger and a little bit wiser than 20 years ago. They are life's heartstrings - those things that keep us attached when we are distant, provide love when we are lonely, and hope when we are discouraged. They are what helps us to continue to laugh and cry together, even 20 years later. Our heartstrings are what keep us connected even when time and distance separate us.
And my brother and his family who are moving to the other side of the world...that "sooner than anticipated date" is now tomorrow, and I feel like my heart is being ripped out. (That will be the topic of another post because I can't go there right now!)
Heartstrings...connecting, loving, bonding us to each other and to a God who truly loves us more than we deserve and whose heart is overwhelmingly gracious. I am blessed beyond belief by the heartstrings of lifelong friends. You know who you are and I love you all very much. Thank you for shaping my heart and for teaching me how to love. There are some bonds grow stronger with time. I'm looking forward to the next 20 years.
