A birthday tribute to my 'oldest' friend, Faazhya

Happy Birthday Faaz!💜🎈🎉🎶
November 2, 2017
A rich history of friendship:

Faazhya is my 'oldest' friend, going back to kindergarten. Her parents eventually became friends with my parents as well. I spent many nights at my friend's place on El Carmen St. in Arima, Trinidad. They lived in this charming house with a beautiful garden surrounded by a low fence. They would often invite me to a beach hotel in Mayaro on weekends and treat me like their own daughter. 
After kindergarten, we attended the same elementary and high schools.
Faazhya and I could talk for hours on the phone and we loved to poke each other in the back seat in their car when we spotted a cute guy as we drove home from school (which was often!). Her dad often gave me and my sister a ride home.
Our first 'separation' was in high school where we were placed in different classes and thus developed new and different friendships, but always maintained our connection.
Their family first emigrated to Canada and were instrumental in helping my family to follow a couple of years after. Her entire family has always showed kindness to me and made me feel like part of their family.

Faaz and I at my 10th birthday party at Pro Queen St. Arima

Faaz visiting me from Canada at Cocorite St. Arima

Faaz and I celebrating at get togethers in early years in Canada

Faaz and her treasures: her grandchildren

Faaz and all her family members 

So from toddlerhood to over the hill women, we still hold hands and look to each other for comfort and counsel and belonging. Life events have separated us frequently but nothing can break that bond so tightly knit as children.
We bared our hearts to each other and still do. We've disappointed each other and ourselves at times, but that is part and parcel of our humanity.

I treasure the day when she also became my sister in Christ and embraced the faith so dear to me. 
Her joys are my joys, her sorrows are my sorrows.
I uphold her family in prayer along with mine.
Let me tell you about the Faazhya I know:
She was a pretty, vivacious and bubbly teenager. And smart!
She was sensitive and when she crushed on a guy, geez, we never stopped hearing his name!
She was a chatterbox and it would take her a couple of hours to drink a glass of chocolate milk because of that!
She never put on airs even though her Dad was the mayor of our town. She was always down to earth and real.

In later years when life events crushed us both, I saw a courage in that woman that amazes me. She persevered, trusted, and walked through that fire with determination and that passion burning in her for her children and grandchildren. She laid down her life for them. She lived a sacrificial love. 
She is a thinker and ponders deeply on issues affecting her life and those around her. She is quite an eloquent woman and I know that God has a platform for her to share with wisdom what He has done in her life. All of my family members think of her as family as well. Proof in point: my brother had a crush on all my 'best' friends except Faaz, because she was like a sister.😀
As a friend, she has been loyal and faithful and is someone I can just sit with and be silent and feel at home and safe.
She is Faazhya and I am so glad she calls me friend.

Faaz, I am so proud of you and I love you deeply even when separated. Thank you!
Allow me to give you a blessing straight from today's Scripture verse of the day:

And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people),

Ephesians 1:18 AMP

Psalm 90:12-17

So teach us to number our days,

That we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom.
Turn, O Lord [from Your fierce anger]; how long will it be?
Be compassionate toward Your servants—revoke Your sentence.
O satisfy us with Your lovingkindness in the morning [now, before we grow older],
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad in proportion to the days You have afflicted us,
And the years we have suffered evil.
Let Your work [the signs of Your power] be revealed to Your servants
And Your [glorious] majesty to their children.
And let the [gracious] favor of the Lord our God be on us;
Confirm for us the work of our hands—
Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

👐Father, I commit Faaz into Your Hands this day and ask that indeed she will see Your favour towards her displayed in her life and in those she loves dearly. May You restore the years the locusts have eaten and bring light where there is darkness, hope where there is despair, Your Presence where there is desolation. Grant her the confidence in Your love for her to approach Your throne with boldness as she intercedes for her loved ones. May her greatest pain now be transformed into the greatest blessing for others and use her as a platform for Your glory. Strengthen her and cover her with a keen sense of the Cloud of Your Presence. Provide for her daily needs as she seeks first Your kingdom and righteousness. Equip her for the days ahead as she tends to her Mom. And Lord, thank You for blessing me with a faithful friend, so strong and true.
I now entrust her to You who knows and loves her completely. In Jesus' Name, Amen.💜💝

 And my song for you (as well as me!): Back to Life by Anthony Evans

[Verse 1]
I breathe out, confusion
I breathe in, Your truth
I breathe out, all my fear
I breathe in, Your peace
I breathe out, confusion
I breathe in, Your truth
I breathe out, all my fear
I breathe in, Your peace

[Chorus 1]
And I, I'm coming back to life
I'm feeling hope arise
Because of You, only You
Jesus...
I, I'm leaving the rest behind
My heart is satisfied
Because of You, only You
Jesus!

[Verse 2]
I lay down, my weakness
I take on, Your strength
I lay down, my defenses
I step into Your victory!