Path of Pain

Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break. ~William Shakespeare

"There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go."

I have a dear friend who has been walking on a similar path of pain as I have. We have been friends a long time and have poured love and mercy into each other's lives. Years ago when I learned of my sister's death while my friend and I were in Yakima for a conference, she took me to the airport, bought me a ticket to Tacoma and waited with me for three hours for my flight. On the day of my husband's funeral--when the rest of the family was busy getting things ready, my friend sat with me all morning until time for the service.

Now, though we are on separate journeys, we are walking together and sharing it with her has been sweet-- Hours of talking on the phone, in person and in instant messaging. We go to meetings of support groups together, where we are seeking messages of hope. When one of us says she is depressed and spent the day crying, the other understands.  But, often, before our time together is over we find ourselves laughing, and we part company feeling lighter and much loved. I am getting better now and pulling out into the light, but her grief and loss is still great. I won't leave her behind, though; I will continue to give her what she has always given me, love and acceptance and willing ear, until she passes out of the darkness herself. That's what friends do.

The iris is called Mornin'.