Let's Be Friends

The only thing that I want from you is your friendship. But if I have to be dishonest with you, by telling you things you want to hear, or by not telling you what you don't want to hear, then I cheapen you, and I cheapen our friendship. I would rather not have your friendship at all than have you as a cheap friend. Cheap friends are a dime a dozen, but a real friend is worth more than all the money in the world. A real friend is someone who listens, and opines honestly, but does not judge. A real friend might take offense, but would never deliberately offend. A real friend does not need to remember who their friends are, because being a real friend is as much a part of their nature as the color of their hair; it is something that one simply cannot forget, or, for that matter, even fail to be!

Dear Shasta

You probably think you remember me. But if you feel anger and resentment, or hatred when you remember me then you have forgotten, who you are. Do you remember what I told you as I was taking you home through the woods in Idaho? Do you remember when I put my hand on top of yours, and told you, “You might not think so now, but someday you will probably hate me because of what I did.” Do you remember the rest of what I said? The important part? The reason I touched your hand, even though at that point I felt I had no right to even speak to you, much less touch you. But I touched your hand because I wanted you to remember what I said. Do you remember? I said, “It's okay if you hate me. I'll understand”. And you, being the wise and honest soul that you were, remained silent. You did not try to deny that you would ever stop loving and forgiving me. And that's how I could tell your love and forgiveness then was genuine. You loved me as only an innocent can love. And you forgave me the same way. Do you remember now? I pray that you do, because the child you were then, is the child who will redeem this world someday.