Kaitlin Bishop

There are some people in your life that are front and center: your best friend, your siginificant other, your parents, favorite professors, and preachers. There are many people right behind you that you can access easily, when need or want be: friends, extended family, administrators, and co-workers. But then there are those tucked away; the spirits who are quietly cheering you on and whispering on your shoulder, even if you don't always notice them. Kaitlin Bishop is one of those people for me.

She and I met through church youth groups, retreats, mission trips, sunday schools, and everything else that we did there. We were both staples at HUMC, but somehow, I never spent an exceptional amount of time with her or got to know her as well as others. However, ever since I moved, she, along with a few others, have acted as guardian angels over me.

I came to her tonight in tears, after facing a rough day of emotions, memories, and questions. It's been months since we've talked but she's always seemed close to me. Her words tonight explained the closeness as well as comforting and embracing me. Where some of my friends want to give me tough love and see me finally be happy and whole again, others are ready to tell me that it's okay to be where I am for as long as I need to be. Each has their time and place, but tonight I needed to be submerged in my grief.

Kaitlin talked with me for two hours as I explained my aches. She listened patiently, asked me to explain deeper, and provided no judgement whatsoever. She let me weep and she let me feel. She provided inspiration and true comfort and made me feel so absolutely loved that it made me cry. I'll let some of her most powerful words speak in place of mine:

"If I say anything tonight that's church relevant, I'll say this:

God gives us all two things when he creates us, in my opinion. He gives us a purpose, reason for being, and the gifts to share that purpose with the world. He also gives us a soulmate to share that world with."

"Of all the people I keep after, I worry about you both the most and the least. The most because you've faced more obstacles and heartache than anyone else. The least because you've come through them, just like you always have and always will."

She reads my blogs. I know people do, and I can see that people do on this one, but this is new. I never knew about the one for school since I can't track anything on it. When I went to explain something and found out that she already knew the rough story, I started crying again. I know these are public and anyone can read them, but to know that someone reads them regularly, to keep tabs on me and check on me? I can't describe my gratitude. I'm not alone. My words don't go out to no one. I have family, both blood and chosen, who care as deeply for me as I do for them.

Kaitlin, tonight you are the representation of that bond. Thank you for everything you do for me, both seen and unseen. I love you so very much and can't wait to give you the huge tear-filled hug I've promised the next time I go home. You are an inspiration. ♥