A Best Friend

I don't think people really know what a best friend is. Some people throw this term around too loosely; others claim never to have had one. I consider myself beyond fortunate to have the BEST best friend. Sometimes I feel a little junior high-ish describing her as such, but there's really no other way to put it. She's not just a friend, or even a good friend. Saying "the sister God didn't give me" might be a little closer to the mark, but even that doesn't cover it.

My best friend knows me better than I know myself sometimes...well, more often than sometimes. I tell her everything - my deepest fears, my silliest worries, my smallest victories, my most random observations - and even the things I really hate to admit. I know I can tell her these things because a best friend doesn't judge. Ever. A best friend accepts you for who you are. NO. MATTER. WHAT. And if they can't? Well, then that person wasn't really your best friend to begin with.

My best friend knows when and how to push me to be better than I am. I think back to teammates on two Biggest Loser teams that claimed to be best friends on a recent season. On both teams, one "best friend" let the other down. That's not what best friends do. I would rather die than let my best friend down.

A best friend shuttles your family members back and forth to the hospital when one of your loved ones is seriously ill. A best friend puts your cat's ashes in an urn when you can't bear to do it yourself. A best friend stays in the hospital with you overnight when the delivery of your child isn't going smoothly. A best friend drives four hours to tell you in person that your boyfriend asked her to sleep with him. (Note: a best friend does NOT sleep with your boyfriend and then take you on Jerry Springer to tell you about it.) A best friend burps your baby even if babies scare the crap out of her. A best friend volunteers to learn how to change diapers so you can get some sleep even if she's vowed to go to her grave without ever having changed one. And a best friend, knowing what it took for you to offer, says that's OK, you don't have to.

These are all things that my best friend and I have done for each other. I thank God every single day for my best friend. I don't know what I'd do without her.

Thanks for everything Chris!