Do you ever look at someone and think “Man, I really wish they could see what I see.”? This happens to me often. I like to watch people. And in this sport of people watching I have come to be pretty good at reading people. I can often pick up on unspoken tension or underlying subtleties. Twice recently I have had overwhelming thoughts of how I wish people could see themselves the way that I see them. I have thought this about a lot of people in my life, but today I am writing about two people specifically.
The first is a girl that has been my best friend for years. I met her in my freshman year of college and, despite the fact that we did not like each other at first and had negative opinions of each other, we have been friends ever since. We have been in a few fights in the past several years. We have even had fights where we didn’t talk for a few weeks. But even when we fight we are still best friends. When I have a good day I want to tell her about it. When I am pissed I want her to be pissed with me. When my heart gets broken I know I can always talk to her. She is that kind of friend who is a forever friend. The one that when I’m eighty and sitting on my porch drinking lemonade she is still going to be my friend. So, this friend…well she sometimes does not believe in herself. She wonders why she is not someone else, someone better than herself. What I wish she could see is that there is no one better. She is absolutely fantastic. I wish that she knew she is beautiful and funny. I wish that she could feel confidence in herself the way I have confidence in her. She has the knowledge and ability to change the whole world. She longs to be protected and adored. I know that she will find those things. If I could tell her one thing it would be that I hope she remembers that even when it hurts God is refining her into someone that will glorify Him in all she does, and that is a wonderfully beautiful thing. You my best of all friends are simply amazing. You amaze me daily and I hope the people you chose to let in your life know just how lucky they are to have you around. I just wish that you could see what I see.
The second is a guy that is actually a new-ish friend. Even though we have only been friends for a little while we connected right away. On like the third or fourth day that I had ever known him he said in a video interview that even though we just met it felt like we had known each other our whole lives. I could not have said it better. I have come to think of him like a brother—and if you know how much I love and adore my brothers that is saying a lot! We don’t have a lot in common besides music. He knows more about the world (in a global perspective sort of way) than I could ever hope to know. He is an athlete. He is a musician. In a recent conversation with him we were discussing the next big step in his life. He has chosen to move approximately 868 miles away from his home to pursue higher education. I am amazed (and I’ll admit slightly jealous because I love the area he’s moving to) at this next step in his life. However, in my conversation with him he said a lot about how he is not ready to leave and what it comes down to is that he is afraid. I think he is afraid he will fail. He spoke about his mom and how she is so wonderful and helps him so much and does so much for him. He talked about his friends and his girlfriend and not being around them. What I wish he could see is that he has the ability to do anything he chooses to do. Yes, it will require a lot of hard work. But he is more than capable of doing that. I wish that he believed in himself the way that I believe in him. I wish he knew that he is brilliant and that his knowledge of people and culture far surpasses that of most people twice his age. I wish that he could see forward to where his life will be in a few years. I wish that he could see the way that when he speaks with authority people listen and that gives him the ability to command and lead. I wish he knew and understood the depth of his talent. He told me once "with great power comes great responsibility". Well, my friend they are both yours to have. And I promise that I will be there to celebrate your successes and encourage you through your failures. I wish you could see what I see.
Does anyone else ever have these moments? Times when you can see all that someone else could do and be if only they could see it to?
I know who the first person is, and she really is that awesome. I wish she knew that too.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I know exactly that you mean. A friend recently told me she feels like she should have her life more "together." But she has a great life, and things will come in time. She's so phenomenal I wonder why she doesn't see it.