It’s the end of the year and a good time to do some reflecting. So I did that last night, thinking about all the things that happened this past year. More importantly, I thought about all the really great people I know and how truly blessed I am to have them in my life.
And then today I had a thought… what if I had never met you? As I ask that question, I am picturing each person in my life, one at a time, and what they mean to me. I started with my family, my children, and of course my wife, who I have loved deeply for over 30 years and couldn’t live without. She changed my life for the better in so many ways. But what if I had never met her?
Then I thought about my friends. One by one I pictured them in my head, quietly thanking God for allowing me the privilege of meeting them, getting to know them, and spending time with them.
Then I thought about how precious my friends are to me. There is Chris J, who I’ve known for over 40 years, always loyal, always in touch, always offering to help me when I need it. Everyone should be so lucky as to have a friend like Chris. There is Bill T, who I met 20 years ago when we first started playing Halo Baseball together. My wife and I had lunch with him yesterday and as a business owner and CPA, he was able to give my wife great advice regarding her philanthropic efforts. Then there is Dave C, my good friend and golf buddy, who keeps donating to my wife’s charity and literally gave me the shirt off his back one day at the golf course. (Okay, it was cold, and it was a really nice golf sweater, but I love it and wear it all the time.) There is Bob H. who is 75 now and has moved to Idaho, but Bob makes it a point to stay in touch with me on a regular basis. And there are couples that my wife and I see regularly like Danny and Asun, Scott and Rhonda, and Steve and Ceci who are so much fun to be around and would always be there for us if we need them. As I said, friends are precious.
I could go on and on with my list of friends and what they mean to me. Chances are if you are receiving my Monday Messages, it is because I consider you a friend as well. But as I pictured each person in my head, I thought about that same question. What if I had never met you? So maybe that’s a good New Year’s resolution. Resolve to reflect, and think about your friends and ask yourself, “What if I never met you? Or maybe even ask them and let them know how good you feel about them. Just a thought!
True
friends are never apart, maybe in distance but never in heart.
~ Helen Keller
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