By Nadine Briggs
I am generally a very positive and upbeat person but today I feel angry. I am angry because someone did something to a very dear friend of mine that was just really mean. The huge mean thing she did was followed up by even more mean things and an uncovering of secret mean things that she had been doing behind my friend’s back for a long time. If this sounds very much like we’re in middle school, it feels that way to us too. It’s strange when adults act this way. It is hard for us to understand because our maturity is, thankfully, beyond this type of behavior.
The thing is my friend is as kind a person as you will ever meet. She is caring and loving and would do anything for anyone. In fact, she did much for the person who has made me angry. She helped her in immeasurable ways. Her kindness was her downfall in many ways because she always chooses to see the good in people. She gives everyone the benefit of the doubt and she has compassion in her heart. So when this person took advantage of that goodness, it seemed as though my friend was used for this woman’s personal gain and then disposed of when she was no longer needed.
What this person did not realize is that my friend has many other friends. In fact, she has a whole Girl Tribe. A tribe of friends who will be there to support her and who will pitch in when the load is too heavy to carry alone. Or who will listen to her for as long as she needs to talk. If she wants to talk and talk and talk, we will listen and listen and listen. It’s what true friends do. We rally around and support the hurt one and make sure no further harm comes to her. This Girl Tribe is not only there for her, but for the rest of her family too.
My friend will not participate in the ugliness that she did not cause. She will continue to be her kind, compassionate self. She will not let someone take her down and if she should happen to stumble, there are many arms to make sure she doesn’t fall. The Girl Tribe is right there, always; ready to lift her back up. Kindness will always win.
