Friendship is one of the biggest influences in our lives, and I feel like it is often underrated in today’s society. But I would not be who I am today without my best friend and all her perfect imperfections.
You make me a better person in every way I can imagine. You encourage me, you challenge me, and you love me. You have grown up with me through vacations, high school dances, going to separate colleges, to getting our first apartment together. We have stayed up all night talking, have more than a few matching tattoos, and people expect you to be with me everywhere I am. But things have not always been so easy.
I will always remember the fights we’ve had, the words said, and the tears shed. I will never forget the nights we were too stubborn to speak to one another over childish disagreements. Days I couldn’t figure out how we had gotten so close when we were so different. But you are just one of those people. Someone who keeps me wild and keeps my life changing, and I realized I am so grateful for those differences. When you moved away to college and left me in our hometown I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of our friendship, but today I know that it only made our relationship together stronger. You went through the hardest part of your life, faced with decisions and thrown into a part of the world so dark. I never had a doubt of your light, and how you would encourage those around you some day. I saw a beautiful woman full of so much potential and life, even on the days you couldn’t. I saw a woman who I would forever be on the sidelines screaming for. The woman so strong nothing could knock her down completely. You were and always will be more than any choices you’ve made. You are more than your past mistakes. You have been made new by a perfect God who loves you more than I could even imagine, and he is so proud of you for the woman you have developed into. This life isn’t about what you’ve done; it’s about what Jesus did for you. And you so effortlessly reflect the sacrifice Jesus made for us and shine his love through you.
I have had the honor of watching you blossom in your faith. I get to watch you use your God-given gifts to touch people’s hearts the way you have so greatly touched mine. You loved me against the grain, and you protect my heart like it’s your own. You understand who I am, and you always seek to encourage. You see and appreciate me and never fail to remind me you love me. You are the perfect vessel God has chosen to pour his love on me through and I am so proud of the woman you have become for yourself and for Heavenly Father.
Thank you. Thank you for being my adventure partner, and helping me plan my imaginary wedding. Thank you for never letting me be alone, for never accepting me for anything but who I am. Thank you for being there for me when it all came down, and for the when I was standing on mountains. Thank you for keeping me strong, through the wins and the losses. Every time I look back on my life I see you, and I am always going to. Life’s been a journey with you by my side and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You have been my best friend through all of it.
From spending every day in 2016 together to living miles apart now (1,005.8 to be exact), I will still forever be your loudest cheerleader. I can’t wait to continue to see where life takes us separately and together. I can’t wait for every day I get to call you my best friend. You will always be my sister; you will always be my best friend. I can’t wait for you to be the future godmother to my children. I can’t wait for forever with you by my side.
