“It is by chance we met . . .by choice we became friends.” ~Unknown
sportn' electric blue eyeshadow... so 80's
It was almost thirty years ago that I saw this girl sitting on the curb in front of a convenient store that we frequented for junk food and soda during lunch. She appeared to be sad or depressed or troubled about something. I had ever met her before, but I felt compelled to plop down next to her and asked her if she was alright.
It wasn’t long into our conversation when we realized that we were dumped by the same boy! I was in seventh grade and she was a year older in eighth grade. We definitely had something in common- young hearts broken by the same dude!
That lunch hour and that moment on the curb, almost 30 years ago was where I met my best friend Amy Christiansen Sheahan. Did you notice…we have the same last name today!
After my first year of college I decided to come home and work for a year. I found an apartment and needed a roomy. Amy had just broken off a very unhealthy relationship that she was in for five years so we decided to move in together.
One weekend, I went out of town and Amy decided to spend the night at her parent’s house rather than stay at the apartment alone. When I arrived home the next day, I barely pulled into the driveway when my Amy came running out to the car and told me the horrible news she had just received. Her ex-boyfriend committed suicide the night before at the park just a couple of blocks from our apartment. We learned more about that horrible incident as the story unfolded…
Just minutes before the tragedy, Amy’s ex-boyfriend was at our apartment looking for her. He was banging on the door so loud that it caused quite a commotion, so our neighbors had to call the police. When the police arrived, he fled to the park, where he shot himself.
Shock. Unbelief. Horrified. Confused. Amy and this guy had been together for years, and although they had broken up, the devastation was unreal and painful. No one would have ever thought something like this could happen. We couldn’t grasp with our young minds this awful incident. As we learned a little more about that evening from our neighbors who lived below us; we came to realize that if we were home that evening, perhaps she or we ‘may’ not be here today.
What if she decided to stay at the apartment alone? What if I didn’t go out of town and we were both home? What would happen to us or her? Perhaps nothing…but we believe that there was a reason why we were not home that night.
We grieved for his death, his family, his friends, and together as best as we knew how. One night after the funeral, we sat on our balcony still devastated by what had happened, staring up into the stars, smoking cigarettes (yes, we used to smoke…you know those long skinny cigarettes that looked cool), and wondering if he was in heaven. We questioned if there was a heaven and if GOD was real. How could He have let this happen…all the questions one could think of when faced with tragedy.
We began to question God, life, existence, purpose, and our destiny. How could life be so short? Here one day and gone the next.
modeling swimsuits together for local sun & surf shop
Amy moved out eventually and I got new roommates, but we remained in touch. During this time, I was in serious car accident and while in the emergency room, a hospital staff recognized me and called Amy because she knew were were friends.
I spent three days in the Intensive Care Unit. When I woke up from being unconscious, my family had already left and my best friend Amy was at my bedside. I had no idea that I was laid up in ICU for the past three days. She told me that she asked someone to come pray for me and that everything would be alright.
She was right! I was recovered and went home seven days later. The guy that came to pray for me in the hospital is now my wonderful husband Kevin of almost 20 years! Thanks to Amy for the introduction!
Amy was dating Kevin’s brother Tim when the accident occurred. A couple of years later, Amy and Tim got married. It just couldn’t get any better; my best friend is now my sister-in-law! Singing…”WE ARE FAMILY…”
Kevin & I standing up in Tim & Amy's wedding...
We often reminisce and marvel at how far we’ve come since our first meeting on the curb in front of that convenient store. We discovered faith in God to be the turning point for both of our lives but at different times.
Today, we continue to live our life by faith, the source of everything we do. We’ve experienced the powerful impact that it’s made on our lives in every area.
Amy moves to AZ, saying Good bye
Amy and her husband Tim live in the Phoenix area with their three miracle babies…a story that Amy will share one day that will encourage parents all over. They are serving as Pastors at their church making a difference in the lives they touch.
Although Amy and I live thousands of miles apart, we share a special covenant relationship that has stood through tests, tears, tragedy, and triumph.
I’m so thankful that we’re living in the 21st century and the digital age…we Text, we Tweet, we Skype. No amount of distance can separate the gift of friendship that God has blessed us with. We truly have a special friendship that’s rare.
“A friend loves at all times.” ~Proverbs 17:17
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful story Duong! Thanks for sharing.
Duong, I love this story. I’ve heard it from you before and glad you finally wrote about it. Here’s to MANY MANY MANY more years for you both.