Reunited

We're on the same continent again. We've skyped once. We've texted some (ok, a lot). We've counted down the days.

And finally: January 10th comes. She's just a dark smear in the hallway (thanks to my poor vision), but the smear comes closer and closer. My eyes focus... she's feet away... and then... we're hugging. Her shoulders are once again the perfect headrest. A few tears. Lots of laughing. She's home.

The weeks leading up to this joyous reunion have been some of anxious anticipation, but also stomach-knotting fear. Fear that things won't be the same. Fear that we won't be as close. Fear that she won't even like it here anymore. Fear that she'll pull away. Fear that I'll be too busy. Fear that maybe our friendship was a shallow one that only happened because of circumstances. Fear that we have both changed so much that we won't be able to be what we once were.

But the fear has subsided. Not because we haven't changed. In some ways, we've become more alike... we now both have a passion for learning about other cultures, have friends all over the world, and know what culture shock is like... we've swapped jetlag stories, "weird food" stories, and stories of God's faithfulness.

I'm learning that true friendship allows for change. I can't selfishly expect everything to go back to being the way it was. But if I allow room for growth, change, and flexibility, our friendship will deepen and grow and change (for the better). It might not be as it always was... but who says that "those days" were perfect? True friendship allows for mistakes. It comforts in pain. It celebrates with success.

The best part is that we always will have common ground... no matter how many years go by. We are sisters in Christ. And such a bond can never be broken.