Accepting my friend
You know how it is with friends. Sometimes I meet someone by accident and feel like I've known them all of your life. There's a comfort there. I can spend all day with a good friend and still want for more.
Then there are more challenging friendships. I meet them and it's not an immediate connection. Whenever I'm with them I come away wondering how I feel about it. Was it uncomfortable? Well...maybe. Do I want to see them again? Yes and no. If anyone looked at me beside them they'd comment on how awkward it looked. "Why are you spending time with that guy, are you crazy?"
But with time it can grow into deep friendship and occasionally even love. Or sometimes I just learn to be with them. I start to understand where they're coming from and they mold me and change me whether I want them to or not. I get used to their walk, or the weird things they like to eat. Now when my family sees us together they say "Oh there go the two of them, again".
And much later in life I can look back and appreciate the value of acceptance.
My friend isn't perfect but they've helped me to see my own faults and weaknesses. Like it or not, their influence has been really helpful in lots of ways. Big and small.
I met this friend of mine a little over 35 years ago. Back them I was just a teenager with all the challenges that brings. And if you'd asked me then about it, I'd have told you how much I hated it. My diabetes.
Not a day goes by when I don't think about a cure. And what it would mean for me to say goodbye to diabetes.
You'll think me crazy, but I might even miss it a bit. Not always, maybe just when I see myself slipping from some of the good habits that diabetes has taught me. Like acceptance.
My child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and my instructions.
Keep in tune with wisdom and think what it means to have common sense.
Beg as loud as you can for good common sense.
Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure.
Then you will understand what it means to respect and to know the LORD God.
Proverbs 2:1-5.
Labels: acceptance, friendship, nablopomo
posted by Bernard @ 10:04 AM
4 Comments:
I'm glad you've made friends with it over the years.
I'm not quite there yet.
When there is a cure, I will give D a swift kick in the behind on the way out the door.
Bernard,
I understand what you mean. After 37 years of this, what would I do if I was suddenly cured? How would I act? Would I still be concerned with what I ate & when? It feels weird thinking about that all the things that would change - all the things I've become so accustomed to for so many years.
Thanks for sharing the great Bible passage. It makes you think...
Although I don't think I'll miss diabetes, I have often wondered if I will know what to do with myself if there is a cure. So much of who I am is wrapped up in diabetes. I am still a person separate from diabetes, but it controls so much of my life that I am not sure what I would do, or how I would handle it. With that said, I pray for a cure continually. I know you do to.
Great post Bernard.
After 25 years I have similar feelings. Would I be as careful, as measured in my moods and emotions, as stable and safe and thorough had I not had such a stern 'friend' to keep me honest all those years? I don't know, nor do I know if I would be as healthy as I am now. Avoiding risk isn't fun, but there are some rewards. Thanks for posting!
Cheers,
Kathy (araby62 on TuDiabetes)
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