A Friendship Made in Heaven

One of her sweetest gifts is her singing voice, but on that particular day, her gift was not expressed through song - it was expressed as she spoke the words to a precious eulogy given at her best friend's funeral.  They had met at church over 30 years ago and had been best friends ever since.  This sweet lady's name is Karen Couch and she was my mother's best friend.

As she spoke about their special friendship, she shared that they were truly best friends.  They stood up for each other.  They shopped together, prayed together, laughed together, cried together and most importantly loved each other without judgment. They were each other's confidants.  They could tell each other anything without being judged or criticized.  They would ask each other's opinion and advice about all sorts of things and always knew the response was coming from a place of love. 

I recently saw the YouTube video "100 Year Old BFFs" and as I watched these 100 year old ladies being interviewed about pop culture with responses that had me laughing so hard I almost fell out of my chair, I was reminded of my mom, Carol and her best friend, Karen and their best friendship.   Had they made it to 100 years of age together, they would surely be like these sweet ladies being interviewed.  It's a hilarious video and if you haven't seen it, check it out!

I watch on social media as the middle school and high school girls post selfies with what they refer to as their best friend, but as time goes on, I see them rotate to others they now refer to as their best friend.  I've seen it with my own daughter and I've seen first hand the hurt of words and betrayal.  But what I do understand is this - it could take one, or three or 10 for that matter, so called best friends until you find the one who is willing to love you for who you are, lock your secrets in her heart and throw away the key, and tell you the truth no matter how much it hurts. 

Karen is now battling bone cancer and is on a form of oral chemo.  She says she worries about leaving her family and grandchildren, but she is at peace with leaving this world when the time comes because she'll get to Heaven and see so many she has missed, especially her best friend, Carol.  She misses her laugh and her sweet smile, which was contagious.  On our last visit to Georgia, Karen said to me, "I miss my best friend and I see her in every butterfly."  She visits us all in the form of a butterfly and my face lights up every time I see one nearby ... because I know it's my mother.

In Karen's most recent email to me, she asked, "Aren't you just a little jealous that I'll get to see her before you do?"  With big tears, I paused and thought, I'd be lying if I said no.

"If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies."  Author Unknown

How To Love A Pig

I knew there would be tears and I had been preparing myself emotionally to comfort her the day she would have to say goodbye.  How is it that a relationship could develop within a three and a half month period of time between a 16 year old girl and (of all things!) a pig that could cause your heart to break?

It all started back in October when Hannah drew number four out of 100 FFA students in the school district to select her pig.  She was nervous and wanted to select one with good coloring, great body structure, and well - one that would prove to be a champion.  She picked a 50 pound, black and white Hampshire pig she named Paisley. 

The first day I met Paisley I said, "Hannah, please do not get attached."  Her response was, "Mom, I will give her the best life possible while I have her and that is all that matters."  I accepted that and kept a distance for quite a while. Until that weekend when Hannah was out of town and I had no choice but to be on pig duty.  What seemed like a pig who grunted and charged at me most of the time became putty in my hands when I bathed her and rubbed her skin down with skin softener.  All it took was for her to roll over on her back for me to rub her belly like a dog and it was instant love  - right or wrong.

If you had told me the day my "girlie girl" was born that she would be raising a pig in her lifetime, I would have laughed out loud and never believed it.  However, I'm so glad it was part of God's plan for her and in spite of the sadness in saying goodbye to her pig, she will remember Paisley fondly as a part of her sophomore year in high school. 

While it's difficult to compare the two, the heartbreak of loving a pig for a short time and losing it to the fate of the agricultural process is similar to loving people.  The only difference is -- a pig doesn't intentionally hurt you in its life span to eventually become bacon.  However, whether you invest and open your heart and soul up to people for a short period of time or a long period of time  - sometimes  they will hurt you more than you ever imagined. Does that mean we shouldn't love either one of them?

Most of the time children are to learn from their parents, but I learned something from my Hannah in her relationship with a pig.  ALWAYS love unconditionally and love with all your heart - in spite of the hurt that may come.  Enjoy the journey.

Paisley won first in class at the progress show and then on her final weigh in at 241 pounds, placed third in her class at the Humble ISD livestock show.  This pig, tagged #240 had a huge impact on the hearts of our family - even if it was for a short time.

How to love a pig.  One feeding, one bath, and one belly rub at a time. 

 

Humble ISD Livestock Show

3rd Place Ribbon!