Sometimes I Wonder, Why Are We Friends?

For: 
Alexa, Camille, Cherish, Clara, Elisabeth (Lizzy), Elizabeth V., Esther, Jessi, Laura, Lauren, Mary, Rashida, Rilly (GB), Shelby.
(And all of the other amazing friends of mine.)

Most of these girls have been friends of mine for over five years. Some of you have been friends of mine for half of my life. A couple of you I've only known a year or so.

They say you can't be best friends with everyone. 
I say that's only because it's impossible for me to meet everyone. 

They say there's not enough of me to go around for everyone. 
I say that God didn't give us limits when He told us to love the world. 

But even so ... I'm lucky to call many my best friend, this I know.

And even so, I wonder. Why are we such good friends?

Sometimes I wonder, Why you and I? What brought us together?Why are we friends? And why hasn't our friendship ended?
Because some of my friendships have ended. 
Why are we friends?Is it you or I? Or God who knew that We should be friends? 
We joke and laugh and say"Despite our differenceswe like the other one."
But that's not why we're friends. 
If we're honest, it's moreOur similarities that made us bondAnd let us bear
Our differencesOur disagreementsOur preferencesOur annoyments
You are my friendBecause together we Grow and riseToward every good and horrible bend.
When we first met—at church or partythrough letter or mediaor by some wondrous accident—We saw something similar that whispered in our heart"I want her for a best friend!"
We bonded through shared experience,Though trials blewWe remained friends that never flewAway nor said, "No more!"
We bonded by caringBy knowing, By growingTOGETHERAnd showingThat we really had enough in common to remain friends
Sometimes it's easier To see how different You and I appearBut that's notWhat makes Us friends.
Even so, there are many who like what I do,Who've seen the same pain I have,Who by all appearancesLive the life I live. So why aren't they my friend? 
Is it perhaps that differences don't define?That similarities aren't enough to align?
So why are we friends?
You are my friendBecause we chose to seeThe good morethat not to the very end.
You are my friend, Because over every time and mileThat we fought and trialedWe chose to share Our tears and laughter.
You are my friend:Because you are loyalBecause you are lovingBecause you hearBecause you love the truthBecause of God. 

I was recently convicted to stop saying things like:"We are best friends despite our differences.""We are best friends though we have little in common.""We are best friends even though we've had rocky patches.""We are best friends even though I don't understand why." 
Because our differences didn't define us when we first tried to be friends. So why should it define our friendship now? Whenever the differences become the center of the topic, it's all you can see. 
And it's hard for relationships of any sort to thrive when what separates us becomes more important than what connects us. 
Even so ... I realized it wasn't really what we had in common that made me friends with these wonderful people. Truth be told, we don't always have a lot in common. More truth be told, there are many people I can hardly stand even though I have a ton more in common with them than many of my friends.
So why were these girls my friends?
And I realized, it's because we chose to focus on what we did have in common, and that we had a desire to work out a friendship that would last. Obstacles in the future weren't our focus, but a wholesome friendship. 
And now that we have this friendship ... I want to fight for it. NOT focus on things that used to not matter to me once upon a beginning. 
One of my dreams is to get a picture with all of my friends. Most of them have never met, and live so far from each other. But ... Someday. 
Someday I will get this picture with all of you with me! Thanks for being my friends. 
What makes one best friend material, in your mind?

New blog schedule change: I have so much content to share while I'm in Germany, that I'm going to start posting Wednesdays and Saturdays. I don't know if this will be a regular blog change, or just while I'm in Germany. Enjoy while it lasts!