Peter ponders friendship

Aria is my friend.  She is this very gentle lamb.  She is not older than me as previously reported.  She appears that way because she is so calm and wise for one so young.  It is good to have a friend.  They come in handy for our chins.  Friends heads have chin spots where we can rest our chin when our head is heavy.

Friends can say so much with their eyes.  The best thing about friends is that they look at us with loving eyes and tell us that we are important.  Aria and I want you to know that you are important too.  Look into our eyes, can you see the love pouring out?  Did you really look?  Look again.

Friends are an amazing gift.  When I was gifted to my preacher pal, my life got so exciting.  I have traveled.  I have watched preacher pal pondering perplexing problems of great theological impact.  I have sat up night after night with preacher pal pouring wisdom onto screens preparing papers and prayers and sermons and have been privileged to edit a few.  Really I have.  I edit with a look or through a gesture or two.  How I place my paws provides postive reinforcement to the words read to me.  Preacher pal has become quite astute at bear signs.

My social life also expanded as there are other human creatures who are friends or family of preacher pal.  Some hug me.  Some wonder about me.  Some want to kidnap me to be their best buddy.  Also, I was not the first of preacher pal's stuffed animals.  I have to work on a better description of our community on non breathing friends.  Oh dear, that makes us sound dead.  I assure you we are not dead.

Any way back to friends and friendship.  My first blog indicated we moved.  Well, are still moving, just in a rest stop, and inbetween.  What I have noticed about this human friendship thing is that no matter where preacher pal is, there are friends.  Some from long ago reconnecting, yet the conversations are as if they have never not been disconnected.  Some are disconnecting, but not really.  Sort of like a chin spot.  When the chin spots are not physically there, the memory of them remains.  The connection remains even when not geographically together.  These friends have journeyed either many years or a few years or just a few months or days with preacher pal.  Each friendship unique and wonderful.  Some have had moments of miscommunication and reconciliation.  There are times of distance and closeness just because of life's journey for each person.  What I have observed though, is what made them friends, makes them friends, and keeps them friends is love.  The friendship never lost just changed through time and space.  Preacher pal is very rich with friends and soon we will make new ones.

I do not know what I would do without friends, especially Aria.  Friends are important.  Tell your friend today how important they are.  If you cannot use your words, use your eyes, or maybe your chin.

Peter