Have you ever watched someone that you love go through the hardest thing in their life, and you do not know how to help or even what words to say? You feel a fraction of their pain but only enough to briefly understand the depth of how they feel. You feel as though you have to watch every word that comes from your lips, in fear of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, causing more harm than good. I have.

I have a friend, who in my opinion, was the most unlikely of friendships. The love I have for her I honestly thought I would never have. We are polar opposites yet, at many times she is the exact thing that I need. In all honesty, I don’t talk to her as much as I should because she challenges me to have a level of integrity that I am still growing into. Over this past year, I have watched my dear friend go through one of the greatest trails of her life and I admire her for it.

I am quite sure she has her moments of weakness, maybe more than a few. However, I admire her for her strength and resilience. She is a very humble woman. So humble that at the beginning of our friendship, I viewed her as weak. I felt as though she allowed others to push her over. Not realizing she was an expression of what true strength looks like. After watching her over this last year, I have seen her piece by piece work with God on putting the broken pieces of her life back together. I don’t think she even knows how much of an inspiration she really is to me. How her response to what has caused her so much pain is what has caused me to love God and others more. I know that she doesn’t even know that my current life’s path stemmed from her pain. Or even that I love her as much as I do.

So to my friend, should you happen to read this, know that I write these words with tears streaming from my eyes. I love you more than words can express. I pray for you. I pray that you know in the midst of your pain, God is creating something beautiful. I pray that you know my heart aches for you but it is also encouraged by you. Thank you for sharing your life with me and some of the valuable moments in it. I am forever grateful and forever changed. Nothing is in vain.