Thursday, July 8, 2010

The best friend any man could know...

This past Fourth of July was his birthday.  Thirty-six years old and I'm proud and (above all else) thankful that he is my best friend.  I met him on his 16th birthday-- twenty years ago.  Twenty years of understanding, companionship, laughter and tears.



What's funny is that when we first met, he didn't like me.  I laugh every time I think about it.  To look at us now, you'd never know that he thought of me as a cocky imposer into a group of friends that he'd known most of his life.  "Who's this guy coming in from no where?"  It's hard to say as I look back, if I had any indication of how things would change.

He's always been there for me.  He's always tried to understand me even when I knew he didn't-- he TRIED.  That spoke to me more than if he could've understood what I was going through.  An absolute and true friend.  Without him, I'm not sure I would have stayed on the path I chose.  I'm not sure I would be the man I am today (or at least, trying to be the man God intends me to be). I'd have no dependable ear, no sympathetic soul, no hope that anyone could ever "get" me.  I'd have no example of friendship.

Our laughter is honest, abundant, constant and unparalleled. We love it.  Ask him sometime... he'll tell you about his favorites with a huge smile on his face.  The recollection and the memories are treasures we both share and hold closely.

I am thankful.

I am humbled.

I am cared for. 

Thank you, Shawn.  I can only hope that my friendship to you is half as much of a blessing as yours has been (and will continue to be) to me.  You are the best friend this man could know and I thank God for crossing our paths.

You are my best friend and my brother.  And I do love you, man.

Brice

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