A Message from a Parted Friend

Posted on January 28, 2019 by russtowne

helena-lopes-459331-unsplash

I was just cleaning out some years-old emails when my eye caught one from a friend who suddenly passed away some time ago. I stopped to open the message and am glad I did:

Friendship

By Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

Oh, the comfort— the inexpressible comfort

of feeling safe with a person,

Having neither to weigh thoughts,

Nor measure words— but pouring them

All right out— just as they are—

Chaff and grain together—

Certain that a faithful hand will

Take and sift them—

Keep what is worth keeping—

And with the breath of kindness

Blow the rest away.

May I always be the kind of friend who keeps what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blows away the rest.

With Love,

Russ

Photo credit: Helena Lopez via Unsplash.com

About russtowne

I'm awed by the beauty of nature and the power of love and gratitude. Some of my favorite sensory experiences include waves crashing on rocky shores, waterways in ancient redwood and fern-filled forests, and rain. My wife and I have been married since 1979. We have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren. I manage a wealth management firm that I founded in 2003. My Beloved is a Special Education teacher for Kindergartners and First Graders. I'm a published author of approximately 60 books in a variety of genres for grownups and children.

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6 Responses to A Message from a Parted Friend

joannerambling says:

January 28, 2019 at 9:26 pm

Beautiful

Reply
- russtowne says:
  
  January 28, 2019 at 11:00 pm
  
  I agree. Thank you for your feedback, Joanne.
  
  Reply
ksbeth says:

January 28, 2019 at 11:26 pm

that’s beautiful, russ and i have no doubt that you are that kind of friend –

Reply
- russtowne says:
  
  January 28, 2019 at 11:52 pm
  
  Thank you for being that kind of friend to me, Beth.
  
  Reply
Mrs. P says:

January 30, 2019 at 4:38 pm

Russ, this is beautifully expressed. Do you think it would be permissible to share her poem, with credits? It really moved me.

Reply
- russtowne says:
  
  January 30, 2019 at 4:55 pm
  
  I agree her poem is indeed beautifully expressed. I’m no trademark lawyer and this isn’t legal advice but my decision was to share her poem with credits for non-commercial purposes on a not-for-profit site (this one.)
  
  Reply