Document bridal portraits in Florida of my childhood best friend? Don’t mind if I do. This pretty lady got married this past weekend, so that means it’s time to release the film scans & I am elated about it!
15 years ago, at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, this blond haired, Alabama accented, 7-year-old girl, with the cutest (as our mothers would say) ‘homemade cheeks,’ walked into my Sunday school classroom, and quickly became my partner in crime.
One of the most significant life lessons Elleigh has taught me throughout our friendship is that people are worth fighting for. Nothing has ever been convenient about our friendship. We’ve lived in different cities and states for the majority of it, and while I am tempted to say ‘somehow we made it work,’ I know exactly how we did.
We choose to show up when it was hard, and really listen to what each others hearts where wrestling with, we gave grace when it wasn’t deserved, and invested when there was no guarantee of return. We’ve had seasons where one friend has carried more weight then the other and vice versa, we’ve had conflict that has broken and rebuilt an even stronger trust in one another, and we’ve always known that the history of friendship we’ve been given was worth protecting and standing guard over.
One of my favorite poets, Rainer Rilke once said, “The point of marriage is not to create a quick commonality by tearing down all boundaries; on the contrary, a good marriage is one in which each partner appoints the other to be the guardian of his solitude, and thus they show each other the greatest possible trust.”
Joshua, you love this sister of mine so very well. I see you standing guard over her solitude and creating space for her to be, grow, wrestle with things unresolved in her heart, celebrate successes, feel on top of the world, or just not be okay at all. You do not push, or rush her, you are patient, gentle, and understanding. Your love and friendship has given her a safe place to be completely and totally herself, and to say thank you for that will never be enough.
Ell, it has been one of the greatest joys in this life to call you sister & friend. You effortlessly carry elegance on your shoulders, you are faithful in every sense of the word. You have a grit that is hard to find in a world aimlessly searching for comfort and convenience. You have an ability to meet people exactly where they are and love them in-progress… and I know that every inch of these things that are lovely, praise worthy, and beautiful about you all stem from a sincere and deep abiding relationship with the Lord.
I love you both, and I am so excited to watch you walk about this next season of your lives!
