"Love While You Can"

"The most beautiful discovery that true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart."- Elisabeth Foley

Almost two weeks ago from today, my best friend, Autumn Malpass was in a very dangerous, life-threatening car incident. Autumn and I have been best friends since the fifth grade, she knows more about me than any of my other friends combined, and I love her to death. One thing I haven't mentioned is that Autumn moved away when we were in the eighth grade; she now lives near Columbia, South Carolina. Now, honestly, I'm not sure how many friends you're going to find who have basically been apart from each other for almost five years but still talk to each other on the phone almost ever night, have so many inside jokes that you can't even remember why you have some of them anymore, can make fun of each other time and time again, but it's okay because that's how your relationship works, and can call each other in the "wee hours of the night" with a problem, knowing that the other one is going to answer just to make sure everything is alright and talk to you as long as you're not. Well, this is the relationship that Autumn and I have. I'm not sure what binds us together, but it is so strong. When Autumn and I first met, we couldn't stand each other, which is how most of my friendships have started out, but needless to say, that didn't last very long. We can scream at each other, hit each other, even walk away from each other, but no matter what, we always end up turning back around, knowing that underneath it all, we will always act this way because that's what sisters do, and regardless of how many times we let each other down, we are always there to pick things back up and stand side-by-side through all of the good and the bad that life has to offer.

I bet you're wondering why I'm telling you this story. Well, yes, I do love to talk about my friendships; they are very important to me, but that's not all. Autumn could have very well lost her life in her car incident; she came out unconscious, and even though she has regained consciousness now, I spent the days that she was unconscious worrying to death, praying with every ounce of my being that I had, and crying myself to sleep, knowing that I couldn't be there, but not knowing whether or not I was ever going to hear the sound of my sister's voice again. All I can say is that there IS a God, and He can do so many miraculous things in your life, and Autumn is proof. She has been though so many things in her life from cancer at the age of five to this car incident, and each time, God has spared her life, healing her faster than anyone could have ever thought possible, and brought her back stronger than she was to begin with; He has something huge in store for her, and He is going to use her in mighty ways. I know that He's already used her to change my life. Now, I'm just hoping that her story can help change yours.

You NEVER know how much time you have remaining with the people you care about most. I am the most lucky girl in the entire world to still have my sister, but I also know that life is short, and it can't be wasted. Each and every moment that I spent, not knowing how Autumn was, not being able to speak to her, see her, or tell her that I love her and will never stop believing in her, my whole world was tearing apart. Honestly, I didn't want to think about anything else, and all I wanted was to tell her how much she means to me. Luckily for me, I got the chance to go see her. Of course, she already knows how much I love her and care about her, but it makes the most amazing difference to actually be able to say the words. You can't just assume that someone knows how you feel about them and how much you love them, you have to show them and make sure that they know; actions speak volumes. Make the time that you have left with the one's you love worthwhile, let them know what they mean to you, and never let them go.