True Grit

Oh, the brave, brave souls who answer to "friend."
Authentic friends have mad grit. 
Friends whose hearts draw from a well of trust in the Lord. 
They are the courageous ones, who ask tough questions. Because they really want to know your heart.
And share a piece of theirs. 
Confronting and admonishing with lips of kindness.
Lips that honor God. 
Chancing a defensive lashing. Or great sorrow to wade through. Or simple awkwardness. 
Speaking truth in love. Truly from love. 
Not to pass morsels around for the hens to gobble up.
Not to bolster presuppositions.
But to love and guide with the cross as their compass. 
Lips that are sealed with the sweetness of discretion. 
They are the risk-takers, who stand in the sun with a broken one. Under all that heat.
No fair-weather, here.
Not hiding nor retreating. Risking discomfort in order to give comfort. 
Embracing in the open. And all those knee-aching prayers.  
Avid protectors and lifters of the soul. 
Facing fatigue, they grab ahold of the weight you carry and quietly walk the road in togetherness. And trudge on. 
No gain to be had. No networking to be checked off. Their love is sacrifice. It's sweat and pain and relief. 
Awash in Christ's love, they do not cower. Sharing a generous portion of grace from their plate.
​Fed by a steady hope.
They are the brave ones who risk their hearts with humility in friendship. 
Bless you, with all your guts.
You gift this worm a million ways. 
Keep on, valiant teachers. 

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