friends

A good friend of mine recently lost her son, her only child, unexpectedly.  She is having a very difficult time dealing with it, and I have been checking in on her and trying to help, but what can one do, what can one say??  I feel so helpless, there are no words...  It is so sad.  Today she sent me this e-mail:

Time passes. 
Life happens. 
Distance separates. 
Children grow up. 
Jobs come and go. 
Love waxes and wanes. 
Men don't do what they're supposed to do. 
Hearts break. 
Parents die. 
Colleagues forget favors. 
Careers end. 
BUT......... 
Sisters are there, 
no matter how much time and how 
many miles are between you. 
A girl friend is never farther away 
than needing her can reach. 
When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you 
have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life 
will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, 
praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on 
your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the 
valley's end. 
Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk 
beside you...Or come in and carry you out. 
Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, 
daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law,Mothers,
Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended
family, all bless our life! 
The world wouldn't be the same without women, and 
neither would I. When we began this adventure called 
womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or 
sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we 
would need each other. 
Every day, we need each other still. 

~~ author unknown