This post is dedicated to all who have had someone dear to them choose to turn their back on them and walk away. If you have a hole in your heart that has never quite healed, this post is for you.
About ten years ago my best and closest friend, someone whom I’d known since second grade, completely cut me out of his life without warning. We hadn’t had a fight or even a minor disagreement and I had no clue as to what I had done to cause that reaction. All attempts to find out and apologize were rebuffed.
I had a hole in my heart that wouldn’t heal and my world felt out of balance.
Years later, I ran into one of his brothers and enquired as to how he was doing. His brother said he was going through a divorce, was having a very rough time of it, and could really use a friend.
I went home, picked up the phone, and tried again to reach out to my estranged friend. This time he was receptive, and our friendship resumed. I was able to be there for him when he most needed a friend.
I tell this story because it may offer hope of eventual reconciliation for some. While people are alive, hope has a chance to live on too. And sometimes, timing is everything.
I do not know whether reconciliation will occur in your situation(s), or even whether reconciliation is always best for everyone involved in all situations, but I do know that I wish for happiness and inner peace for you and the one(s) from whom you may be estranged, however that may look for each of you.
With love,
Russ
Russ Towne's A Grateful Man 
Bless your heart Russ. You are a shining light in the world, illuminating and brightening my world, and the daily worlds of so many. I cannot thank you enough for your wisdom in this post.
With loving and grateful friendship, Gina
What a beautiful comment, Gina. I’m blessed to have you in my world and life. I always experience light and warmth when I read your words.
With gratitude and loving friendship right back to you,
Russ
a wonderful story Russ…did you ever find out what happened way back when?
Thank you, Diana. Yes, he eventually told me that when he and his wife were out with My Beloved and another couple, My Beloved and I told a story about what happened the first time he changed our oldest son’s diaper. We thought it was a funny and story. Clearly we were wrong, as he felt pain from it. He thought we were making fun of him at his expense, and that friends don’t do such things to friends, and that since we had, we clearly we were not his friend. Had we known our story would have caused him pain we would not have told it. Of course, we immediately apologized, and this time he accepted it.
I hope we never cross that line again, with anyone.
Russ
wow a simple misunderstanding. It’s too bad he didn’t say something then…
Yes, pride can come with some terrible consequences, but after decades of close friendship, I believe I should have known him well enough to have seen the problem coming and head it off before it occurred. I was blind and clueless on this one, and almost cost us a lifelong friendship. As it is, the friendship has lost some of its sponaneity, trust, and safety, and that is a very high price for both of us to have paid indeed. .
Russ
A wonderful experience and a wonderful blog, all in one!
Thank you, my friend!
Russ
It’s hard also to see someone you love …be estranged from someone else you love and feel that there isn’t anything that you can do about it…But as you say there is hope and that’s what I hold on to…Diane
The flower withers but the seed remains. Sometimes the seed is hope and fond memories. May that be enough for your loved ones who are estranged from each other. And may they find lasting joy and inner peace whether or not they as they find their way back to each other.
Russ