Lonely Caterpillar
 

Changed for Good.

I’ve heard it said,
That people come into our lives
For a reason
Bringing something we must learn.
And we are led to those
Who help us most to grow if we let them.
And we help them in return.
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you.

At my granny Lorna’s funeral in the summer, the minister said we should ‘live to be missed’ a phrase that Lorna truly lived up to.

Its funny looking back I can see that Lorna entered our lives at exactly the right time (Lorna was not my biological granny, I never had a very caring one of those). She was a Godly force that just stepped in and held things together when she probably didn’t realise the significance of what she was doing. She was a best friend and mother to both my mum and dad and yet she was a best friend to me too, not at first of course. Even though she’s gone I can still be cross with her for suggesting my 1 month grounding punishment!  The thing is even when she wasn’t exactly who I wanted her to be she was who I needed her to be. My life is shaped and on track in no small part because of her.

I truly believe that People are placed into our lives for a reason, to teach us, to help us grown and to be there for us. In the same way we are in others lives but do we step up to that challenge. Do we like to stay in our little bubble and not reach out to that new person, its hard to step out of our comfort zone but the difference a simple sentence can make can be powerful and crucial. In the same way if we don’t allow ourselves to listen to those around us, to be teachable and even changeable then we might just miss that path that we where always meant to walk down.

In the year before Lorna passed away, I’ve made some of the strongest friendships I’ve ever known. All strong women, with experiences I have never come across, with compassion like no others and with ambissions and dreams to change the world that inspire me every day. I believe these women are in my life at a time I need to learn and grow and know true friendship. I know that loosing Lorna, as painful as that is, would have been unbearable without these friendships (and of course without my faith). The thing is these friendships came about by a chance conversation, a small decision to be friendly, to take a risk at being rejected but a risk at getting to know someone new and wonderful.

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun,
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood.
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better
But because I knew you.
I have been changed for good.

Sometimes the friendships and relationships we come across and put time into, don’t work out, sometimes hurtful words are spoken, sometimes it becomes damaging to both parties and sometimes life just gets in the way and people drift. This is natural, some of my most hurtful experiences have been the ones that have made me strongest have helped me be more deserning in who I keep close and help me keep healthy relationships.

People change us, we change people, our actions have consequences our choices have effects beyond what we can imagine. None of us know what the future holds. Grab friendship with both hands, see where your journey goes, step out but mostly, live to be missed.