Life is like a Box of chocolates

Ever since watching tom hanks get shot in the buttocks, i have thought the above Title was an interesting saying. Today i use that metaphor to describe friends and relationships. I can say within the past year the people we have met and become friends with have helped to change our outlook and the way we view other people. They are people that have also helped to change us and make us better and hold us accountable. I would not of wrote this even a year ago but like a box of chocolates a few pieces went missing. Some moved away, some were without partners for a period of time, these changes brought on a different relationship or more likely the chance to see if a friendship was there or if there was more to it.

Blessed is a word not used enough, especially when you talk of friends. Family, for most of us that are lucky, will always be supportive, but friends are different. There is no blood tie, we did not grow up in the same house together, experience joy, sorrow, victory, defeat for the first time together. We met these people at what could be the most hectic time of our lives and we lean on them for support and someone to share the daily struggles of life. The bond grows, we can thank our children for that as every time they drive us crazy or refuse to listen, it makes us wonder where are friends are and what they're dealing with and how much better it would be if you were together while this happened. They resemble a spouse in many ways. The challenge is to bring it past that common bond and bring it deeper. My wife is in a moms bible study and there is no better way to remember that your an individual, and your friends for more than the fact that you are in the same stage of life. This can even apply to hockey, while we are not in study of the Word, we are studying each other and getting to see the real person, there is no hiding anger, frustration, or the ability to deal with others in the heat of competition like hockey. We get to see how human we are and how much we need each other to hold us up.

Our box of chocolates is full, is yours ?