“A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.”

– Donna Roberts

What a blessing it is to have friends.   There is something about a friend that sets her apart from the many other people we meet or know or rub elbows with as we live each day. Although we may enjoy the company of many people, and although it is a great adventure to meet all the different sorts of folks who are part of our world, there is something startling and familiar about meeting a true friend that sets our heart dancing and kindles the flame in our soul.

If I had to define the word, “friend,” I would say that a friend is someone whose love touches us so gently that we feel free to open our hearts in such a way that the song there sings sweetly, knowing that it will be heard and understood and respected and treasured.  It is a joyful thing to meet a true friend.  When hearts connect in friendship, we not only get to play our own music, but we get to hear the heart song of another.  When hearts sing freely, the melodious connection is a beautiful thing to hear.

A friend does not only listen.  She feels the music of the soul that lies beneath the song of your heart.  She revels in its beauty and remembers the notes.  Without words, on days when you feel out of tune, she sings back your own melody and reminds you of who you are.  How many heartsongs have you learned in your lifetime?  If you know the song of even one other heart, you are truly blessed.  If you are able to play your own song in its entirety to even one other person, then you know the joy of friendship.  Hold it gently.  Cup your hands around it and don’t hold tight.  There is no need to contain the joy of friendship.  It dances lightly and kisses the palms of your hands.  It tickles the tips of your fingers as it plays its song.  It touches your heart as it sings its beauty.  It leaves behind its melody, and whenever you find yourself humming it, you can’t help but smile.  A true friend is a treasure.  She knows the song in your heart, and she knows how to sing it back to you at just the right moment.