I originally received this as an email from a good friend and was very touched by it because in my life it's true.

I posted it a few months ago as part of someone else's thread but now that more people are visiting the Conversations page I decided to put it out on it's own. I wish I knew who wrote it, but I don't. If someone recognizes it and can ID the author, please let us know.

Hope you like it.

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RE: FRIENDSHIP

When I was little, I used to believe

in the concept of one best friend,

and then I started to become a woman.

And then I found out that if you allow your heart

to open up, God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're

going through things with your man.

Another friend is needed when you're

going through things with your mom.

Another when you want to shop,

share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say let's pray together, another

let's cry together, another let's fight together,

another let's walk away together.

One friend will meet your spiritual

need, another your shoe fetish, another

your love for movies, another will be with

you in your season of confusion,another will be

your clarifier, another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,

on whatever the occasion, on whatever the day,

or whenever you need them to meet you with their gym

shoes on and hair pulled back, or to hold you back from

making a complete fool of yourself ... those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman,

but for many it's wrapped up in several...

one from 7th grade, one from high school, several

from the college years, a couple from old jobs,

several from church, on some days your mother,

on some days your neighbor, on others your sisters,

and on some days your daughters.