It’s been said that there are three types of friendships in life; Reason, Season, and Lifetime.

1. Reason Friends come into our lives for a specific reason; to help us grow or learn a lesson. Once the reason is over, the friendship comes to an end. Sometimes work friends fall into this category. We may become very close to Reason Friends and share many intimate details from our lives, but they are still Reason Friends, and although we mourn their departure it’s so gradual that neither of you notice until it’s too late.

2. Season Friends are in your life for a period of time, like friends from high school, college or sport's teams. They are there for a time, but after that Season in our life is over, we go our separate ways. We mourn when these friendships end because it means a significant time in our life is over, but hope our paths will cross again.

3. Lifetime Friends, however are our lifeblood. Without them, life seems empty. They are there in times of joy and sorrow, and no matter what happens in our lives, their friendship remains. Sometimes they aren’t as close as others, but we always come back together. The thing about Lifetime Friends is that we can be apart for a few months or even years, but whenever we see one another again its like time has stood still and we pick up right where we left off. Being a Lifetime Friend has nothing to do with the length of the friendship. It can be three years or thirty.

On Sunday, May 22, 2016 I lost the most important and influential friend in my life, my father. I also have a lifetime friend who was a close to her father, as I was to mine and wrote the following parable not only for her, but as a tribute to both of ours.

I sincerely hope that everyone whether for a reason, a season or in their lifetime could be as blessed.

You and I

You were your father’s daughter; I my father’s son and will always share a sorrow that never will be done.

You may not be family, but I can truly boast. There’s not another person who’d ever come, as close.

You don’t have a brother and didn’t think you ever could. I don’t have a sister and never thought, I would.

You are not my children’s aunt and never will be one. I feel it doesn’t matter, for it’s what you have become.

You have always been there, when others may have went. I have always treasured the time that you have spent.

You and I should never doubt how much we’re truly loved. We’ll always have each other and our fathers up above.

©Richard Lawrence Belford

About the Author: Richard Lawrence Belford is an inspirational writer, father of two daughters and the eldest of three sons who grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He has been on a twenty-five year creative journey that’s not only allowed him to become well published, but also fueled his genuine desire to provide faith, comfort and hope to those in grief.

Richard is also the author of ”It’s Not Goodbye, It’s See You Later” an inspirational book about life, love and loss whose parables honor the memory of those dear to our hearts. 

A parable is a symbolic short story that illustrates or teaches some truth, religious principle or moral lesson.

As just one of billions of people who have lived, loved and experienced loss Richard has dedicated his book to the memory, and written its forward as a tribute to his father. He hopes it makes him proud.

It’s Not Goodbye, It’s See You Later is available in Paperback or a Kindle edition at Amazon.ca in Canada and worldwide at the following links:

Australia Amazon.au / Brazil Amazon.com.br / France Amazon.fr  / Germany Amazon.de / India Amazon.in / Italy Amazon.it / Japan Amazonco.jp / Mexico Amazon.com.mx / The Netherlands Amazon.nl / The United Kingdom / Ireland Amazon.uk and The United States on Amazon.com.

It can also be purchased at barnesandnoble.com in the United States and chapters.indigo.ca in Canada or from Centering Corporation & Grief Digest Magazine’s Grief Resource Library.

"The Centering Corporation is the largest and oldest grief resource center in North America!"

Richard invites you to follow him on Instagram and Twitter, like his Author’s Facebook Page or visit Facebook’s “It’s Not Goodbye, It’s See You Later Support Group” and join the increasing number of its members who believe his book will inspire you to always try & say; “I’ll see you later, instead of goodbye!”

If you would like further information please visit www.richardlawrencebelford.ca.

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