Obviously this year for me and my family was dominated by cancer. It started in January with dads prostrate cancer and it will end with me in the hospital finishing the surgical part of my rectal cancer.
What I would like to focus on in this post however is the men who stood beside me this year. I am truly blessed to have so many Godly, faithful, encouraging, loving men surround me this year. It is not easy to walk with and support someone with a chronic and long term illness like cancer. Yet these men have been with me since that terrible day in May. They have prayed with me, cried with me, taken me to appointments, games, bars, called me, texted me and supported me. These men have given of themselves whether it was money, talents, time, energy and strength.
Even though they might not know it, there were some pretty dark times this summer when their phone call or letter or offer of beer or coffee was exactly what I needed. I am so thankful and so blessed to have the friends that I do. Thanks guys for being my friend. Thanks to Andrew, Travis, Devin, Shane, Anthony, Paul, Dudley and Mark.
And of course a special thanks to the two men who have known me all my life, dad and Wes. I will never be able to thank you enough for your love and support this year. I am so proud to be your son and brother.
All you men in my life, you are truly Big F Friends.
There are friends with a little "f" & friends with a big "F".
The 1st is a large group with sloppy admission standards,
the other an elite, time-tested crew.
What's the Difference?
A little "f" friend: identifies themselves when they call.
A big "F" Friend: doesn't have to.
A little "f" friend: opens a conversation with a full news bulletin on their life.
A big "F" Friend: says, "What's new with you?"
A little "f" friend: thinks the problems you whine about are recent.
A big "F" Friend: says, "You've been whining about the same thing for 14 years. Get off your duff & do something about it."
A little "f" friend: has never seen you cry.
A big "F" Friend: has shoulders soggy from your tears.
A little "f" friend: knows almost nothing about your family.
A big "F" Friend: knows the medical history, dietary habits & marital troubles of everyone on your tree.
A little "f" friend: calls you at 10 p.m. just to chat.
A big "F" Friend: knows you hate to be called after 9 p.m.
A little "f" friend: wonders about your romantic history.
A big "F" Friend: could blackmail you with it.
A little "f" friend: when visiting, they act like a guest.
A big "F" Friend: when visiting, they open your refrigerator, put their feet on the sofa, talk back to your spouse & reprimand your children.
A little "f" friend: thinks the friendship is over when you argue.
A big "F" Friend: knows that a friendship's not a friendship until you've had a fight.
1 comment:
Ryan, great post. It is great to see how many folks around you have been there to support you and your family. You are also blessed with a very strong wife to help throughout this tough year!
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