True friends stick with you through even the most painful battles.  Your words may exhaust them at times, but let’s face it, sometimes we are full of rhetoric.  When we are overly dramatic, painfully repetitive, emotionally irrational, they are there to set you straight.  Sometimes the truth is painful to hear, but they are the ones who suit up in armor and prepare to defend themselves from the daggers you may be ready to throw.   They text to offer help with a difficult situation you may be facing, they defend you when they hear hateful gossip about you, they let you know when your behavior is less than appropriate, they stay the course with you until your battle is won!  They forgive you when you lash out at them with anger, and they are patient when you just need to babble on and on and on……

Through many ups and many more downs

Our light shines brighter than the stars

Everlasting and overflowing, charisma and charm

The whole world waiting for the smiles our hardships have born

As the past mistakes fade away

Wilting from the fires of yesterday

We look back with a learning eye

And with eagerness in our hearts we begin each new day

While encouraging love and motivating each other towards success

We do as most good friends do when battles are endured

We sit, talk and reminisce while drinking our bottles at the bar

We raise our drinks and toast to our beautiful scars.