Are BFFs practical?

You may have heard the idea that we all brighten a room, some by entering it and some by leaving it. You may also have heard the term BFF which is short-text speak for Best Friend Forever. As wonderful as it may sound, is anyone really someone’s friend forever? Okay, there is Jesus, but other than Jesus, can someone be your friend forever? Okay, my train of thought took another direction. Let me bring it back on track by giving you two examples of what I mean.

What is a SSF?

Have you ever had a friend who brightens your day any time you interact with them? You know the kind I mean, the one who brightens the room and your life when they enter it. I call them Sun Shine Friends or SFFs. These are the kind of people who are the most friendly and genuinely love others. We love being around them. When life looks gloomy, they say something or do something that brightens your day. I can think of two such people in my life, Connie and Cheryl. I don’t get to see either of them as much as I used to or like.

SSF Connie

Connie is a fellow church member. I don’t believe I have ever seen Connie when she wasn’t smiling. I think if I ever saw her sad or crying, it would just break my heart. She insists on giving me a hug whenever our paths chance to cross. Actually, if I don’t get a hug from her when we see each other, I feel that I have been cheated out of a blessing in my life and it is incomplete. It feels almost like the stars are out of alignment. It’s not one of those “Oh, I guess I better hug him” kind of hugs that equates to a dead fish handshake. Oh, no, it’s more like I love you and am so glad to see you kind of hugs. One you enjoy and will leave feeling good. It is always accompanied by a big smile. Like sunshine personified in her laugh and embrace.

SSF Cheryl

Cheryl was a coworker. Though she is a hugger, she is more of a doer. She loves to spread her sunshine by doing for people and by giving gifts that make you think about how much she loves and appreciates you. She came back to work for me a short time after she had left our company. Unfortunately, financially we could not keep her position the second time any more than the first. I had already started to refer to her as one of my SSFs and had explained to her what it meant. When she left the last time she decorated my office. On my wall she placed a “Faith Family Friends” plaque and she signed it. On my bookshelf she placed a stuff animal chicken that had a sign stating “Good morning, sunshine.” I had already started to refer to her as one of my SSFs and had explained to her what it meant. She also left a wind chime hanging from a hook in the corner of my office. It had the usual little pipes that rattled and on top was a metallic sun. Where I work we have helicopters fly over on a regular basis and when they do the wind chime rattles ever so slightly. You have to know what it is when it rattles or you will miss it. It reminds me of Cheryl every time it does and I cannot help but smile. It has brought sunshine on some very down days. I say a little prayer, thanking God for my SSFs.

Who are your SSFs?

Let them know by saying so by sending them a text, email, or tagging them with this article if it reminds you of them. You can even let them know by giving them something with a sun on it, like a chicken, wind chime, or a card. I thank God He created Sun Shine Friends and He placed some of them in my life to spread that sunshine. After all they are more practical.