Gods Gifts

I was sitting in my office relaxing, waiting for a client to arrive, listening to a nice mixed cd with the contents of Chante Moore, Tamia, Mariah Carey, and various other artist, and responding to e mails when I began reading a book, I know should have been doing work right? But anyway I was reading this chapter when the main character was sent a very personal gift from his mother that made him reflect about his life and the people in it. Once again I drifted to think about my friends and what they mean to me. How literary works of art can take you there huh? I began to feel the emotion that they character was feeling. I was overcome by gratitude that God had put these people in my life for one reason or another. I began to think about if I did not have these people in my life would I be a different person? Would I have made it this far without their support and love? When I was growing up like every other kid I called everyone my "friend." Talking about using the term loosely! If we were in the same class you were my friend, if you took my bus you were my friend, if we sat next to each other at a picnic you were my friend, if you lived next door you were my friend. Boy was I wrong. My father would ask me all the time "Why is so and so your friend?" or "Jaret do you know what a friend is?" At that stage in my life I did not want to have to answer the Spanish inquisition. But he gave me one of the most important pieces of advice I have ever received. He told me that a friend has to prove themselves to you as you have to prove yourself to that individual. A friend is not just someone who you go to school with but someone who will be there for you without question. A friend is someone who will tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear. A friend is someone who always has your best interest at heart. Pops kicked knowledge! I have carried that philosophy, with some amendments I have personally learned along the way, throughout my 25 years on this earth. I am a firm believer that God puts people in our lives for specific reasons. Some for seasons and some for lifetimes, people that the wind blows into your life so that you can learn and grow from. As I look at the people that God has placed in my life, I am AMAZINGLY BLESSED! I have had to overcome great personal obstacles in order to be the man that writes these words. People have exited my life that I thought would be with me for life and some people have entered my life and I would have never thought they would even make my acquaintance. Now as an adult the term friend has such a deeper meaning for me. All of the individuals I consider my "friends," which are only a handful, are priceless gifts from God in my eyes. They have inspired me in ways that cannot be described with known words. My friends have been there for me when I was at my lowest giving me the unconditional love that at times my immediate family would not or could not provide. I consider these people my family and in actuality they are closer to me than many if not most of my relatives. I have always gone through life very guarded and sheltering many areas of my life in fear of being vulnerable but with the help and support of my friends I have become a more confident, outgoing, productive man. Not having to want to be accepted for materialistic reasons but being accepted for me, flaws and all. When I am moody, when I have an attitude, when I am happy, when I am going through, when I am feeling some type of way they are always there for me and I know I can count on them. No longer do I fear others are not reliable because these people have proven to me that I although I may be alone at times I am never alone because I have them. These people have been there through illness, hospital stays, nervous break downs, deaths, tragedy, catastrophe, let downs, accomplishments, and successes. So to my gifts I say I LOVE YOU! It's crazy, some people are taken aback when I tell my friends that I love them, like we are not old enough to do express how we feel about one another, we are adults people! But if they only knew what you mean to me and how you have been my motivation to press through life when I wanted to give up and you would not allow me to. So to you my friends I am forever indebted to you. Giselle, James, Shanika, Chelsea, Jamaine, Nickey, Trece, Sabina, Shaneka, Talisha, Aizy, Evaristo, John, Antwan, Kelene, Jillian, RaShaunda, Tyqua, and Shamel I Love you guys and Thank you! To those who I still consider to be my friends please do not feel some kind of way but there particular individuals are the epitome of what my father told me what a friend should be, no matter the distance between us you are my friends for a lifetime and not a season! My parents always said I picked good friends and I know they were absolutely correct and I thank God for you!

Jaret