My Grandmother Benesh taught me something nearly 40 years ago.
She said "You will meet at least 100 people, and you will be lucky to find one who you could consider a true friend."
She described the difference between an acquaintance and a friend. The traits she shared that would be key were honesty,trustworthiness,someone who is kind and sensitive to the feelings of others. It would be someone who is willing to meet you in the middle, even when the road is long and hard. And at times, reach out and pull you back up when you have stumbled.
They will laugh and cry with you, and have empathy, not sympathy for you.
She said, "You will know by the deeds and actions of another, rather than their words. You will know your true friend from your heart, rather than from your mind."
This sweet woman showed me unconditional love at a very rough time in my tender years when our family around us was falling apart. All families have a degree of dysfunction. Grandma Benesh was my anchor. I didn't realize it at the time, but she gave me a priceless gift!
I know what unconditional love is and I want to perpetuate her legacy.
My daughter Kristin introduced me to my new anchor, Tara, over 15 years ago.
Oh my Daughter Kristin. She and Bryan were very small when we lost Grandma after her long fight with Alzheimer's Disease, yet I saw those traits in her from a very young age.
Both my children loved church and the Lord, they brought me back to the Lord (where my daughter introduced me to Tara). Eventually their father Steven was saved about one month before they were all three were senselessly murdered during a home invasion/robbery.
How profound a 15 year old young lady to have hand picked the very person who would become entwined in my life with unconditional love and stay by my side throughout the most horrible tragedy one could ever experience.
To call Tara my friend seems like such an under-statement!
Our being placed together by Kristin was DIVINE...guided by the hand of the Lord...
~Gerri
