A Grateful Heart Weekends: My Bestfriend's Wedding

Wedding is always a happy occasion. I love weddings because they always bring out the best in people. Weddings bring families, friends and well-wishers together to celebrate the special event with the loving couple.
I spent one summer in the Philippines in 2012. It was nice to be back home after 5 long years of being away from family and friends. Consequently, that year one of my BFFs finally decided to tie the knot. And since I came home without anyone knowing about it [except for 4 people], my visit came as a surprise to my friend Tess. The meeting brought back the "drama queens" in us. LOL.

I have known Tess for as long as I can remember and we've been friends for more than half of our lives. She is one of the closest people who know me inside-out. She knows my weaknesses and my strengths. She rejoices with my achievements and cheers me up when I fail. And more importantly, she was there at my side when my Dad passed away giving me not only sympathy but moral support I needed during that difficult time. She grieved and cried with my loss. She is one of the sisters I never had.
When I left and married the love of my life, I left with hope in my heart that someday, Tess will soon find her Prince Charming or the Frog just like I did. [By the way, I found my Charming Frog with my BFFs' great influence on my decision-making process, LOL]
And after 4 long years of waiting and hoping and praying [not necessarily in that order] she found Richard. The only man she vowed to spend the rest of her life with.
They finally got married on July 28th of 2012 and I was there to witness her happiness.
With Richard and Bless our other BFF.
I was there to share her special moment that we both prayed hard for.


This is the OPEN LETTER I wrote for her in 2012.
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Dear Tess,
Congratulations and Best Wishes. May God bless you both with a relationship as strong as your belief in the goodness of people... with loyalty as firm as our friendship and with trust as unshakable as your faith in God. I want you to know that I am so happy for you that you finally found "the right guy" that you, Bless and I thought is either illusive or just urban legend. LOL. God is good as you always say and believe. And he never fails. He finally granted and answered your prayer. May He continue to bless your relationship and keep you both healthy, strong and in-love. Thank you for the friendship Tess. There was not a day that I thought about you when I left. There was not a moment that I hoped that you finally find someone to grow old with. And there was not a day that I dreamed that someday I will be there to witness your wedding. And God is good... I was there to celebrate this wonderful moment in your life. And as we continue to lead our separated lives, I want you and Bless to know that no matter how far I am I will keep you and Bless in my thoughts and prayer. I love you. Stay happy my friend. 
                                                                                                            Love Always, Achoot 
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Richard passed away in 2014. Yes, Richard and Tess' happily-ever-after lasted only two years. And within that two years of being together, I know how happy she was to have him in her life. She was well-loved, spoiled-rotten and well taken cared of. But God had other plans for them. And I believe in my gut that Tess knew it and she surrendered everything to the higher power.

When Richard got sick I can feel the sacrifices that my friend had endured to show how much she loved Richard. Though I am not surprised that Tess can be that selfless, devoted and dedicated wife I can just imagine the pain and heartbreak that she went through as she held her beloved Richard's hand when he breathed his last.


FAST FORWARD TO 2017

Just recently she posted this in Facebook.
With teary eyed, I thought... she is right. "True LOVE has no endings". Love doesn't end when your partner passed away. True love continues and persists  because it is more than a feeling. It is a commitment.

Tess and I don't talk to each other as much as we used and want to. Living in 2 different time zones robs us the opportunity to communicate. We only rely on social media to check out each other's "goings-on". Aside from a brief exchange of messages here and there, we only hope that we are both doing alright and will have the change to be together again someday soon.

AN OPEN LETTER

Dearest Tess, 
It's been awhile since we last had a good talk. I hope you are alright. I just want to tell you that I miss you and Bless. It's been five years now since the last time we were together. I miss our videoke sessions and cookouts. I miss those little crazy things we normally do when we are together. Oh how time flies. 
I know it's been three years since Richard left and I am glad that you've moved on and are moving along fine. Though I know deep in my heart that you miss him every single day, I know too that you are a strong woman with unshakeable faith in God. I admire your positive attitude towards things and everything that come your way. I wish I had your kindness and resilience that make you who you are. I wish too that I had your faith in God and in people for I know that faith can move mountains. You have moved a lot of those ever since I know you. 
Neng, keep the faith and remember that I'm always here for you.  

Love Always, Achoot





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