Life's battle buddies

     I've heard my husband and dad both talk about the importance of battle buddies. Both honorable trained men they would die for and seemingly untrained men that "are going to get someone killed". Either way these service members have to depend on each other to try and make it home alive. Some times that result is out of the hands of their buddies hands, but I've never heard of a service member say oh well suit yourself just get yourself shot. There IS someone their for back up.
     I have never been to war. I cannot compare my life's darkest days to what some of our soldiers have seen.  However, I do have a few battle buddies that have proven no matter what they are my back up. We have been through some scary days together and they never duck tail and ran like so many "friends" have. One even took a beating a few times to protect me. Another has never left me feeling empty and alone even though I'm sure she's rolled her eyes and thought oh my goodness drop the sob story already. One has been my mentor for a very long time now. I respect her opinion and wisdom. The last one lives a life a lot different then mine it's been so many years since our lives went in the same direction but I can call on her any time and she can identify with me and "talk me off the edge" of insanity without a coat of sugar.
     I am not related to any of them by blood nor have they replaced my affection for my mother or sister, but they have been my battle buddies through this life. They have been that hand up when I felt to weak to get up off the floor and dust myself off. Sometimes they gently helped me up and encouraged me to keep going, some times we've stumbled together and fell in the whole. It's a lot easier to get out of a whole when you aren't working alone. Other times it was more like a punch in the face to sober the mind. Nonetheless I've not been alone to struggle in silence in so long that most of the scars from those days have healed.
     They are mothers and sisters in their own right. They have husbands and homes that they are committed to tending. They laugh and cry and have their life roller coasters like everyone else. I try my best to be there for them in anyway possible,  but often feel I can never repay the blessings they have been to my life.
     If you find yourself a battle buddy like mine count yourself among the few blessed people. They deserve your respect and loyalty. It's something you don't just give up cause the path you are walking forks from theirs. We don't talk daily at times not even monthly but I've never doubted that if I reached out to them I would find a hand to help. Y'all rock my world and keep me moving forward. I truly love y'all.