I used to think friendship had to look a certain way; coffee dates, constant texting, shared playlists, a group chat with an inside joke name. And for a season, I had that. But then came a friendship that hurt. Deeply. One that left me questioning who I could trust and wondering if it was safer to stay on the surface with everyone else.
For a long time, my closest friend, truly my best friend, has been my husband. He is the one who sees me fully and shows up every day, without question. And for a while, I let that be enough.

But healing has a way of softening the parts of you that once hardened. Lately, I have started to hope again. I am hoping for friendships that are rooted in gentleness, honesty, and mutual care. The kind that do not just survive life’s changes but walk with you through them.

Shauna Niequist writes, “They uncovered something good in me and gave me all the permission in the world to love with that wide-open love, unmeasured and uncalculated” (Niequist, 2024, p. 16).

I want to live like that again. Slowly. Gently. But with an open heart. Maybe unexpected friendships still lie ahead for me. Maybe they will come in quiet ways, in the bleachers at a school event, over a potluck dish, or during a walk on the beach. Maybe they will not look like they used to. But maybe they will still be good.

So today I am asking myself: What have my past friendships, both painful and beautiful, taught me about myself? And I am asking you:
What have your unexpected friends made you realize about who you are?

There is grace here. Enough for the healing and the hoping.

Gracefully yours,

Help keep the words flowing and the stories brewing.
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Reference
Niequist, S. (2024). Celebrate Every Day. Zondervan.