..Love Notes..

I recieved an unexpected care package today from a very dear friend.  I haven't spoken to this friend in atleast 12 years; I'm quite certain it's been longer than that.  We reconnected via Facebook (which is why I love that modern age netowrking tool), but still hadn't really said much to one another. I don't know that I've ever had a chance to tell her what an impact she had on my childhood.  She is one of the most beautiful people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing! Her beauty is so much more than her outward appearance.  She truly has a divine countenance, and the sweetest spirit you could ever dream of.

 Our friendship began when I was just 8 years old.  She was my piano teacher.  Her name is Melanie.  What began as a simple student/teacher relationship soon blossomed into a friendship I can only explain as kindred.  I'm not even sure how many years seperate us, but there are a few. Of course, we never went to school together, we didn't hang out on Friday nights, and I didn't tell her all my deepest darkest secrets.  Age was never an issue because our friendship was so much more than that.  She made room in her heart for a shy, insecure young girl, and took me under her wing.  She believed in me! Each week at church, she would deliver a special "Love Note" she had made just for me.  These "Love Notes" were uplifting stories, with personal notes inscribed at the end of each one.  Sometimes they were spiritual, others were humorous, many were inspiriational, and each one taught me something of worth. I still have each and every one of them! She made it her mission to help me know and understand that I am a beautiful daughter of a loving Heavenly Father; that I am of infinite worth.  She made me feel important! She embodied that message with every fiber of her being.  I had long forgotten what she had tried so hard to etch into my heart, until today.

The contents, though cherished, are not nearly as dear to me as the message unwritten.  She reminded me that MY Heavenly Father loves me!  He knows me!  He thinks about me! He is mindful of me! I am not alone!  How powerful that a message so simple could be delivered by a friend from the past at such an inspired moment. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I read her letter and felt how much she cares for me.  My Heavenly Father knows exactly what I need and when I need it. 

Melanie, Thank You for reminding me who I am! Thank you for being the person you are! Thank You for believing in me still!  Thank You for your wisdom and encouragement! I feel refreshed and ready to press forward! I look forward to using the tools you have armed me with.

A gift for you, Melanie:

A Love Note
by: Morgan

True love and friendship, in it's purest and most honest of forms, is a bond that can never be broken.  It can stand the test of time, distance, and circumstance, and pick up right where it left off.  It etches itself on the soul of all those it touches.  It makes the hard times just a little bit more bearable, and the good times - memories that last a lifetime!

So to all the rest of my friends and loved ones out there, a challenge.  Reconnect with someone close to your heart!  Fill your life with true friends.  The kind that love you for who you are, no matter what.  The kind that uplift and encourage.  The kind that will still be your friend many years from now, even if you never see them again. The kind that make your life better just by knowing them. But most importantly, strive to be that friend to others.  Strive to make a difference in someone elses life.  You'll be a better person for it!