| 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 |