You Can Sit Beside Me When The World Comes Down

Also known as, You Bring The Marshmallows, I’ll Bring The Seats (Oh and Chocolate)

Life always seems to want to remind us that it isn’t infinite.  It has a beginning and a end.  And then we are asked to figure out how to manage it.

At times we are alone hiking through the massive mountains and valleys of emotions, while at other times we share and support each other in the journey.  Leaning down to help with that awkward step, that if we weren’t there, would of caused one of us to slip.

Along the way, we have pebbles in our shoes, a blister, and it just started to rain and all you can do is stand under a tree until it passes.

And then, after what appears to be climbing 5 miles up a mountain side [ which humorously enough ] had a warning sign in the beginning, that said that no one will help you if you have problems, your knee gives out.

You stand there alone on the trail.

It really is that awesome

It hurts.  Your alone.  Your out of breath.  Your backpack easily falls off your shoulders and the hard rock begins to feel soft as you lean up against it.

And then you realize [ Stupid self-awareness ], that someone was supposed to be with you. They promised they would be there, that they would stand by you all the way.  You look up to see that they are no longer there.  And, you feel a sharp pain in your chest. [ But they promised? ] They promised slow dances along the trail.  They promised companionship and someone to lean on when mountain get’s tough.

You look around.  There gone.  Sometimes they were never there all along.  For others, they were there, and you depended on them. And then they decided that you were too slow for them. Or that you were too fast.  Either way, they jumped onto a different trail. [ And that blister still won't go away ]

And then for others.  Not only did you have these blisters, pebbles, and other painful experiences, but you were unlucky enough to have them around.  To only make the trail that much more difficult and painful.  You don’t want them there anymore, because of the pain they inflicted. [ Did they just trip me? ]

And then someone comes along, as you reached your lowest moment.  They lean out a gentle hand.  They are honest, they let you look deeply into their eyes.  You see that their hand is not asking to lead or follow.  But for that moment, they lift to bring you closer  [ The day is gone, and I'm the only light that you see ]. With enough effort, you are brought in closer.

And, with this journey you finally reach that destination, but funny enough the destination is by a beautiful lake, with fish in it.  Requiring both to work together. Because now, As a husband and wife you are taking care of a family. Together. During this time, their was slow dancing by the camp fire.  And early in the morning as the kids are asleep, the two of you climb up the hill and hand-in-hand, watch a new day rise.  And then at the end of the day,  the two of you sit together, buried into each other, watching the sun set.

And, then you start on your hike back.  Remember that knee?  You forgot that it was weak.  You are on your way back down and the knee gives.  It hurts.  But this time, it’s hard not to show the pain. [ Dust was in the air ] But as you sit next to that rock again.  That hand that was lifting you up in the beginning is now emptying out your 50 pound backpack and putting it in theirs.  He  takes the load the rest of the way. While your knee gains strength.

With the blister still there. And those pebbles now refined. You smile, and life at that point couldn’t get any better. And then… you realized that he did it, because he loves you.