Everyone needs a friend
like you.
You found me lying on your doorstop
with broken wings, covered with dirt.
Like a torn up piece of cloth
Like a battered old toy
Like a gaping, ugly sore
That hurts even to look at
or
touch
or
care about.
Alone
Afraid
Injured
And yet you opened the door and
gently let me in.
You bandaged the wounds
And soothed the raw edges where it
hurt the most
You set my broken bones in place
And pieced back together
my shattered dreams.
What I thought was the end
Was really
The beginning.
You invited me on a journey . . .
to pioneer an unexplored territory
to blaze a new trail
to open new doors
to see a new horizon
Oh, yes, I want to go!
The warmth in your smile
And the care in your eye told me
I was safe.
But . . . I tire so easily
And I'm really not very brave
And I'm not sure just exactly where
it
is I'm going
Or just what I'll find once I get there.
Then I took one step . . .
As if to believe you really are there.
. . . and then I see you mean what you say.
You do care.
You held my hand across the rough places
You gave me a boost over the high fences
You let me run free across fields
Always there
Always with me
Even if I ran ahead
Or tagged behind
Always gently pursuing me to go on
Yet totally accepting me right where I was . . .
on the rocks
on the fence
in the mud
up a tree
in the field
Along the way you teach me things . . .
how to swim -- so I won't be afraid of the
water
how to fish -- so I can feed myself
how to land -- so I won't be afraid to fly
how to cry -- so I won't be afraid to hurt
how to get up -- so I won't be afraid to fall
how to love -- so I won't be afraid to give.
My injuries are healing
My soul is awakening
My eyes are not afraid to look at
where I've been
where I am
where I'm going
Even though I'm unsure of where I am now
I've never been here before
And even though it's exciting and new
It still scares me
It's all so different than what I'm used to . . .
unfamiliar feelings
and sights and sounds and smells
But I'll walk on with you.
I trust your outstretched arms and your faithful carings.
Thank you for mending my broken heart
For soothing my aches
hearing my cries
understanding
my pain
sharing
my grief.
How blest I am!
Everyone needs a friend like you!
--Sarah Sterling