history

some friendships bloom overnight

and others grow over a long, long time

both are special

yet there's something

extra nice

about the ones

with history

two chubby one-year-olds

play on the floor

look up startled as camera captures the moment

two growing three-year-olds

play in the yard

wear matching clothes

color together

argue about song lyrics during a nap

share a favorite color of red

celebrate birthdays

four days apart

with pink play-doh and popcorn ball favors

two newly-turned four-year-olds

chant rhythmic cadence in chorus

wrap up in blankets to play lovely brides

make glorious mud pies

and sample the dirt

(it tasted like chocolate)

help to plant bulbs

share trips to the store

learn to marvel at their differences

two eager eight-year-olds

meet once again

chatter as if no time had passed

string daisy chains

mournfully part

become consistent pen palls

two girlish eleven-year-olds

make a club house

hike to delightful picnics spots on nearby high hills

have frequent sleep-overs

enact elaborate make-believe tales

chatter and grow

two young teenagers

span the long miles

with pages of writing

year after year

rejoicing when meeting

mourning when parting

always picking up where they had left off

two eighteen-year-old young women

talk on the phone for hours and hours

marvel again

at the similarities in heart

the continuing growth

and God's work in their hearts

laugh as they share the new favorite colors

of sage green and brown

one of them marries the man of her dreams

and the other rejoices as her maid-of-honor

two twenty-three-year-old women

meet once again

revisit old memories

take plenty of pictures

one of them marries the man of her dreams

and the previously-wedded one rejoices

with flute-song joy at her friend's wedding

I feel thanks too deep to express

for God's gift to me of this friend

and for the strong

life-long

friendship we share

i am also grateful for all that Benjamin

and my parents gave

to make it possible for me to share

in the celebration of her wedding day

it was beautiful in every way