Callie Riesling
Sep 25, 20203 min
Updated: Jan 31, 2021
Every once in a while, I come home from a wedding to something sitting on my porch. It's usually either Amazon or Sarah.
Sarah has been one of a very small handful of people (really includes my parents, my husband and my brother) that continually cheerleads me through life.
There aren't many people in my life who can just feel me struggling and then they drop by to pick me up and dust me off. Usually with Sarah, it comes in the form of a Tookish Book Candle, a necklace or a gift card for coffee and always comes with a long encouraging and loving card to help remind me who I am and who I belong to.
“In friendship...we think we have chosen our peers. In reality a few years' difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another...the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting--any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends, "Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another." The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
Sarah was put in my life for a very short time in 6th grade. She started at our Christian School right before I left our Christian School... so we had a semester to build this lifelong friendship. At a time when little girls aren't usually very good friends to each other. There were times where we didn't know each other. But once facebook started up, I looked up some of my old friends from before I switched schools.
From the start of my business, Sarah has always been one of my biggest supporters. We've always shared a big love for Jesus, CS Lewis and seeing the world. She is one of the few friends I have who get lost in the world of Narnia like I do. She and I understand each other in a way that most do not.
I've seen her go through challenges and trials in her life, just as she has been right by my side through some of the challenges in my life like business burnout or miscarriage. I definently am not as good of a friend as she is. Her selflessness is pretty unmatched. BUT then she found Patrick. Finally, someone who deserves her. Finally someone who reciprocates her selflessness and love. Finally someone who appreciates who she is... not just for them, but for the world.
I look forward to many years of getting to know Patrick the way I have been able to get to know Sarah. Hopefully with some trips to the UK and to the woods to go camping together. Hopefully with a lot of joy and happiness. Hopefully with many things for us all to celebrate together.
In about one month, I will be photographing a very important day for them. I cannot wait.
Thanks for looking! <3