Monday, July 29, 2013

Friendship, The Footprints In Your Heart

Reflections of the Heart

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” – Anais Nin (1903-1977)

Friendship is a most precious gift that will endure the eternities. Cicero (106-43 BC) said, “Life is nothing without friendship.” To have a friend that you can share your innermost thoughts with is worth more than wealth or material objects. To have a friend that you can laugh and cry with, to have someone make us feel wanted and accepted for who we are…this makes life worth living.


Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 – 1962) expressed her feelings about friendship in a completely differently way when she said: “Many people will walk in and out of your life. But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.”

Friends can cheer us on when we need encouragement and help us when we’re depressed. They can embrace us when we weep and laugh at a lame joke that we’ve told. We should uplift one another. We should be able to say, because of our association with one another, “I’m a better person having known you.”

Elizabeth Mauske told a story about an unusual and sweet friendship between her mother and an old native Indian woman from Central America. The Indian woman would visit their home often. With each visit, she would give her mother some partridge eggs and berries as a gift. The lovely colorful clothing and coin necklaces the woman wore fascinated Elizabeth. She noticed her copper bracelets as they softly jingled on her arm and her sweet sincere smile.

The Indian woman only spoke Araucanian and her mother only spoke Spanish. Their conversation was minimal, but they would sit at the table, drinking tea and eating cake together with a smile and a laugh. They enjoyed one another’s company.

Elizabeth noticed each time the Indian woman would rise to leave that she would say the exact same words. With great curiosity, Elizabeth and her sisters memorized the phrase and quickly found someone who could translate Araucanian for them. When she found out what the Indian woman had said, she was greatly touched and said it was one of the nicest compliments anyone could have given her mother.

The Indian woman would rise from the table with a smile and say: “I shall come again, for I like myself when I am near you.”

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could say this about our friendships? After spending the day with a dear friend, we could actually say, “I can’t wait until our next visit because you make me feel good about myself.”

Sydney Smith (1771-1845) said, “Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love, and to be loved, is the greatest happiness of existence.”

Have you had a friend that made a difference in your life? Have you had a friend who left footprints in your heart?



Reflections of the Heart has 13 chapters of inspirational writings such as: The secret of Happiness, Laughter is the Best Medicine, Parenthood – A Great Responsibility, Equal Partners in Marriage, Developing Your Spirituality, and Music Soothes the Soul.

17 comments:

spangldlady said...

I do have some very special friends who enrich my life and with whom I am comfortable in whatever situation we find ourselves in.
Blessings! Darlene Keith
spangldlady@gmail.com

watsit2u said...

Sounds wonderful! Thanks for the opportunity and the possible freebie! :)

Janalyn Voigt, escape into creative worlds of fiction. said...

Hi, Linda. I'm on a writing retreat with a close-knit group of friends. We look forward to our retreat together all year long and just wouldn't miss it. We spend most of our time writing, but break at times to share from the heart. Meals are our best fellowship time, and laughter is plentiful. I am blessed to call these dear ones my friends.

janalynvoigt (at) gmail (dot) com

Unknown said...

I also have a friend who changed my life in so many ways i miss her every day.

marija.grsic9(at)gmail(dot)com

Gail Pallotta said...

Aww, I love this post. Yes, I've had several friends who left footprints on my heart.
pallotta[at]gailpallotta[dot]com

Charissa said...

Sounds wonderful. My grandma was a friend like that--one that made you feel better about yourself when you were near her.

AshleighSwerdfeger said...

Yes, I most certainly do. Friends impact you in different ways. Friends inspire you with their strengths and their weaknesses. Also, when they are not around it makes you realize how dear of a friend they truly are!

ash_o3 at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

I have close friend when high school. We have our chitty chat about whatever. Back then life is easier when I have someone to turn to in rough situation. But then life happened. Someone marrying her and sweep her to foreign country. I'm happy for her, but I'll be lying if I said I never miss her.
Sorry for the weepy comment ;p

shinigami_light @ ymail. com

Unknown said...

I have to say that I feel blessed to have a few friends who really make my life brighter.


bameslive@gmail.com

Becky said...

Great post! I have some friends that left some footprints on me. I am very blessed to have these friends in my life.

beckyqward@gmail.com

LoRee Peery said...

Loved this post. Good friends are a blessing for sure. Yes, I have special pockets in my heart filled by the prints of special friends. My husband has repeated a phrase, "If a man dies with one true friend, he dies a rich man."

meadowlark@loreepeery.com

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful post. I have been blessed to have my life touched by a special friend who has stood by me through so many times of joy and sorrow. Friends are such a gift from God.
Shirley
beemama(at)smithmom(dot)com

GeorgiaBeckman said...

This post made my heart happy. I love the Indian woman's departing words. Thank you for the opportunity to read a "heart happy" book!

georgiabeckman@hotmail.com

Mutti said...

I love everything you write, Linda! I would like to have the e-book now... Once you gave it to me in a PDF file but now I have a kindle app on my cell phone. It would be nice to take it along with me...

I have footprints on my heart. I just hope I have left a few among my friends' hearts!

Unknown said...

I don't really have any friends who have changed something and still stay as friends. but I have learnt many things after they left me behind, that I have more friends than before :)
Would love to read your book. Thank you very much.
Best wishes
Mai
ariendy at yahoo dot com

Brooke Showalter said...

Hi Linda,

Thank you for the giveaway. My best friend left footprints on my heart back in the 7th grade...we're still friends to this day. The book sounds wonderful. I also want to check out your Mayan Intrigue book!

brookeb811 at gmail dot com

bn100 said...

Nice quotes

bn100candg at hotmail dot com