Only The Good Friday - Bitter Sweet

I’m writing today’s post with a bit of a heavy heart because my dear blog friend Shelly, the mastermind behind “Only The Good Friday” is grieving the loss of her niece this week. Therefore, I need to start this week’s OTGF post by taking a moment to send out my prayers to Shelly and her family.

Even in the midst of her pain and sorrow, Shelly has written what I think is a beautiful, inspired and eloquent post, and I urge you to stop on over there and give her a virtual hug. Of course, knowing Shelly, she’ll just be annoyed that we’re making all this fuss over her, but that’s okay, sometimes, you need to be hugged against your will. I’m just saying!

It is, however, Friday, and what Shelly wants us to do on Fridays is write a POSITIVE post, spread the virus of optimism throughout the blogosphere. So, that is what I’m going to do.

I had a whole other post planned for today, but as I started writing this, it took a turn, and I’m just going to go with it.

As I posted yesterday, I’ve decided to join NaBloPoMo this month in their theme of “SWEET”. And as I started writing this post (which was SO going to go in a different direction), I realized that there are few things as sweet as friendships. How blessed are those of us who have a few good, trusted friends?

How much more blessed then are those of us who through the power of the internet, the blogosphere, twitter, facebook, whatever other form of technology you use, have this WIDE circle of friends we’d never otherwise have met?

I’ve told you before (a while back) that some of my best friends “are people I met on the internet”. (Go on, click that link, it’s an oldie, but a goodie!). And it is true. The sweetest thing is that this continues to happen. I am continuously meeting wonderful, amazing, fantastic human beings through this thing called a computer.

Some say that social networking, email, texting, etc. is creating a disconnected culture. People who don’t relate with other human beings and instead hide behind their computer screens, or cell phone keyboards, to keep human interaction at a safe distance. They say that our youth are not developing interpersonal skills and are lacking on an emotional connection with others.

This might be true in some cases. But as with everything else, I think we need to stop blaming the “media”, and start looking at the whole picture. Because I think it is all about how we use it. And I personally have seen some amazing friendships blossom on the internet. Daily, on Twitter, I see women supporting one another through tough times, I see friends pray for each other, I see a mountain of emotional support when someone is having a bad day.

There are “strangers” out there in the universe that I have not met face to face, that I truly consider my friends. People who I know honestly wish only good things for me, and pray with and for me when I’m down. Folks who celebrate my victories and are GENUINELY happy and thrilled for me when something good happens. Individuals who I care for so deeply, and am so emotionally involved with that I had to change the entirety of this post today, because I was so moved.

I will tell you without feeling an ounce of embarrassment that I cried when I read Shelly’s post about her niece. It broke my heart that my friend, who I have not met in person, was hurting so badly.

And as sad as this post may seem, I want you to know that I think it is a GOOD thing. This connection we have with otherwise “strangers” can only be good. And it is oh so sweet.

Please go visit Shelly and say hello. And check out all the other Only The Good Friday participants as well. We’re a “GOOD” bunch.