Truthful Friendships

I've written about friendships before but this time it is a bit different. 

I got to meet up with two of my childhood friends last week. Both women have known me when I was going through my dorky, weird stage (still am though). They have visited me while in Cincinnati, Tennessee, and Indiana along with numerous other friends.

The point of a friendship is to lean on each other and rejoice with each other. No friendship is perfect. No friendship is without pain. 

True friendships are ones where you can be open and honest about anything. I'm thankful I have many of these relationships. The problem is that when grieving we often don't want to burden others by being truthful all the time. 

It is very emotional to talk about how we truly are feeling all the time. It's draining and just plain ol' sad. But I'm thankful that when I do need to talk about it, I have a plethora of friends who I know will listen to me. 

It does not help to lie to your friends when they honestly want to know how you are. And saying "eh, but I don't want to talk about it" is still being truthful. I've learned that I don't want to say how I'm doing all the time but lying and saying I'm okay doesn't help me. 

My friends are grieving too. My family is grieving. I'm grieving. 

When you are honest and truthful, it allows the other person to feel alongside and ultimately it can help them. Grieving is not a one-sided process. Remember to let others in and you both can be helped.