Seventh grade...back to a world of big metal braces, horribly short hair, and awkward training bras....I went to Wayside Middle School and was still considered the new kid. I had no idea who I was or where I fit in. Lucky for me I sat next to a really tall girl also sporting super cute braces. She had a long pony tail always slicked back and tied with a ribbon and wore silver hoop earrings, a Texas Longhorn T shirt, and some form of adidas sweat pants every single day. Little did I know the shy girl next to me would have the biggest impact on my life throughout grade school.
As middle continued to get more awkward with the passing months, the only thing that got me through was Tiffany. We were in choir together and were consistent members of the Lady Wildcat Volleyball and Basketball B Team. We survived middle school together and were basically joined at the hip. Taking countless vacations together and spending weekends at each other's houses similar to a joint custody relationship. Next stop: high school.
High school: where our lives were going to magically become more glamorous with new boys to feast our eyes on, an outdoor campus to bask in the sun between classes, better sports program because we had progressed so much (sarcasm intended), and football games where the players actually look like players and not toddlers playing dress up. Tiffany and I are a lot alike. We over committed ourselves to a ridiculous amount of clubs, organizations, our churches, and AP classes. Because we chose different places to a lot our time we did not spend every waking minute together in middle school, but our friendship is so special it didn't matter. Tiffany is one of those people I can go an entire month without seeing and still be best friends, talking nonstop and laughing at our stupid selves. She is the one person in my life I can tell everything too.
Tiffany is the most beautiful person I have ever met. When she reads this she will giggle, cover her mouth, her face will get red and she will say "Oh, whatever!" But I mean it. She is one of those people that when she walks into a room you notice. Not only because she looks like a super model, but because she never stops smiling. Tiffany has a joy that I've never been able to capture. A joy straight from God. One thing that makes her so special to me is that I look up to her so much. She is such a strong woman of God and is so faithful. She chases God like no one I have ever seen. She has a heart for other people that I've never been able to understand. Where I struggle she stands firm and holds my hand. Tiffany is a light. Her Meme calls her Tiffashine; I couldn't agree more.
As I sit here watching her clean out her closet...let's just say it's going to be a while...all I can think about it how much I am going to miss her next year. Saturday I'm basically leaving for College Station. Tiffany is going to Hardin Simmons University and as sure as I am that that is where God has provided for her, how happy she will be, and how much of a blessing she is going to be to others on that campus...I'm not ready to share her. I know I can text, skype, call, write, facebook, twitter, heytell, etc. her..but it just isn't going to be the same. In the car on the way to graduation we refused to talk about how we are going to be 5 hours away and the next night we called each other bawling. I know we are going to survive...I just don't quite see how.
I've been blessed to call Tiffany my best friend for 6 years now. She is my rock. She points me back to Christ in my times of weakness, holds my hand when I'm struggling, laughs with/at me, and understands like no one ever will. God blessed me with a best friend, sister, and mentor all in this one person. She's going to do great things in His name and I'm so proud to call her my best friend.
She means the world to me.
I love you more than the stars in the sky.
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