BEST FRIEND:
The definition of a best friend is a person who you value above other friends in your life, someone you have fun with, someone you trust, and someone in whom you confide. The first person you call when you get good news or want to go out for a bite to eat is an example of your best friend.
Over our lifetime, I’m sure we have all come in contact with some wonderful people and some not so wonderful people. Sometimes, the people we thought were wonderful turned out to be wolves in sheeps clothing. You thought they were your homie, your ace one coon boon, and maybe even some you had put in your “girl” in best friend status only to discover she was a great pretender. Boy, did that hurt. It was a true slap in the face, a blow to the gut because you didn’t see it coming. How could someone deceive you like that, right? I know. Been down that road 😦
We have to learn where to place people in our lives. Some are in our circle, but the inner circle is only reserved for a handful of people — those special, select few. Now, I’m not dissing myother friends because they have a place in my heart as well, and life wouldn’t be complete without any of them (I totally love you all). However, the few that are in our inner circle are the ones who see us in the raw in a way that no one else does, and are there to tell us the truth whether we want to hear it or not. These are the girls who have our back when it’s going down. These are not fly by night friends by any stretch of the imagination. These are our “sista” girls.
I have two such friends in my life. We can share our innermost thoughts and feelings with the utmost confidence we are not going to be judged by one another, no matter what. One of my friends will say to me, when I’m having one of my “moments”, “Girl, you know you’re crazy, right”? Then, she will follow it up with, “You know only a true friend can say that”. We laugh about it, talk about whatever the issue I’m dealing with and move on until the next time (trust me, there is always one, LOL!). My other “sista” girl and I have been knowing each other since we were twelve years old, and have come up on 46 years of being best friends. We didn’t start out that way, but we can now laugh about the day we met and how she tortured me (inside joke, LOL!) What I love about her, too, is the fact that she tells it like it ’tis’, as they used to say back in the day.
These two women mean the absolute world to me, and have enriched my life more than they will probably ever know. They have listened to me, prayed with and for me, encouraged me, advised me, and even let me rant and rave like an absolute lunatic (another friend would totally agree with the lunatic part; you know who you are), and once I’ve calmed down they say what needed to be said. They don’t stop there, though, because they follow it all up with check in phone calls.
It feels really good to have true friends, particularly in the age we are living in today when everyone has a “motive”. I love these two women to death, and couldn’t imagine my life without either one of them.
I recently celebrated my birthday and, even though both of these women’s plates are absolutely full and running over, they got in contact with me; they made the time.
Below is a text message that I received from one of them:
Good morning my friend😊, I hope you had a blast celebrating your birthday 🎂……you deserve it and so much more!!!! I’m spiritually behind your efforts of advancement!!!!! You my friend have stepped out in Faith and made moves that many among our peers have only dreamt of….breaking the chains for FREEDOM 😮. That alone deserves a round of 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. I’m sure you didn’t think that close to 60 you would make a breakthrough and find strength, and the courage to allow the chains to gently FALL off….with no regrets. Even with continually monitoring your children’s and grandchild’s well being, you remarkably are able to encourage others (through your blogs)…along the way. That alone my dearest friend is a heck of an accomplishment at 58!!!! I’ve always admired that in spite of your situations you always consulted in your/our source, our God🙌🏽. Your continual determination shines brightly as the morning star 🌟. I know it hasn’t been easy and came with much second guessing …..yet it came mightily with assurance, boldness and confidence in our God, who has provided you w/a route to get to the other side of the mountain. You’re truly a replica of what it means “if you have faith of a mustard seed”…God will move mountains for you🙌🏽. That alone is worthy of PRAISE, GLORY and Honor 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽. These heartfelt words are all I could offer you at this time for your birthday 🎁. Perhaps next year I can take you out 😊 Happy Amazing Birthday 🍰 my Dearest Friend 💝
Those words were an absolute tear jerker, and meant more than money could ever buy.
If you have a girlfriend who means the world to you, let her know. Call her up. Shoot her a text message. Send her a card. In other words, make her day as she has made yours because today might just be the day she needs to hear those kind, compassionate words from you.
As always, I want to remind you that:
#GurlYouGotItGoinOn
P.S.: If by chance you don’t have a “sista” girl, you do now. In fact, you have an entire community of “sista” girls because we’re all here for you.
P.S.S.: I’m more than blessed to be loved so much.
Love ya,
Grace
P.S.: I now have a podcast that is featured on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts and a few others, which you may find under Grace Deveraux or “Take A Leap With Grace.” Also, you may find me on Instagram @Gracedeveraux. Please stop by and check out what I’ve been up to. 😊
Grace Deveraux 