Tag Archives: friends

You Are the Difference

You Are the Difference
You start out young, full of questions and full of life
As you grow, you experience hardships and strife.
Your joyous demeanor, tainted by life’s cruel twist
How quickly things can change, like a flick of a wrist.
The path you were on, no longer feels right
Your life’s trajectory altered from added insight.
The priorities you had, no longer rank among the top
The thoughts running through your head never seem to stop.
You put on a brave face, but there’s pain deep inside
Your smile often covers the emotions you try to hide.
Yet under the sadness, a heart of compassion exists
Your caring nature did not dissolve, it still persists.
The difference you make, you often downgrade
You touch lives without realizing the impact you’ve made.
You bring people together, your light finds a way to shine
You bring joy to others, you’ve brought happiness to mine.
The hugs you offer are filled with warmth and love
Your intuitive understanding your friends think the world of.
You matter to those, you would not have even guessed
Yet they hold you dear, for their lives you have blessed.
Don’t underestimate your worth, you matter more than you know
The relationship we’ve started, I hope continues to grow.
You’re gentle and kind, your patience knows no bound
I’m thankful to God, in you, a kindred spirit I’ve found.
So remember this day and in the days to come
You’ve helped who I am and who I will become.
Your smile isn’t as grim as you thought
Your goals in life can still be sought.
Happiness will come in waves and dry patches
And life can still rise up from the ashes.
Hard times will still come, but you won’t be alone
I’ll stay by your side, through all the unknown.
So believe when I say you matter so much
And mine’s not the only life you will touch.
Keep your heart open and more love will come in
You have more strength than you know deep within.

~ Jennifer R. W. Vargas

April 30, 2020


For Mary, who makes more of a difference than she knows. Who made a huge difference in my life and who I will always remember with love and kindness. May she continue to touch others.

Don’t Let Relationships Erase You

I read a really good post recently. So good, that I wish I could just copy and paste the whole thing here because it’s so relevant. Take the time to check it out. It talks about missing someone and not necessarily wanting them to be back in your life.

I’m not quite at that point in my journey, I’d still want them back in my life… There’s a silver lining to the article, or something to look forward to. It talks about wanting the good times again; “Think about it: this doesn’t have to happen with the same person. The history and the feelings can be replicated in part with another person now.

That’s a beautiful sentiment. Knowing that those feelings and emotions you had are not in fact gone forever just because that relationship ended, but rather you will experience them again with someone else. For me, that’s been such a hard part of all this. Mourning the beautiful and endless possibilities of what that relationship could have brought to my life. All the happy moments it did bring to me, along with the inspiration and creativity.

I wrote more poems inspired by this person in the last few months than I have in the last few years. I’m not sure why. It’s ironic how some people can inspire you and others don’t. One of the poems I wrote, I know would have had a great impact on them. I never had the chance to give it, but it was not written in vain. I was able to share it with someone who recently experienced the same thing and it’s been a great source of comfort to them. In a way, maybe I had to meet this other person, in order to be a comfort to someone else.

Life is like that. You meet someone who influences you, changes your life. It can be in a small way, it could be someone you meet once, but you never forget. Moving forward, I would like to challenge myself to only think about the good moments and try not to think about the way things ended. Not forget why, as I will always carry that with me moving forward and apply it to future relationships.

I was listening to a song the other day and it said “people like me are gone forever, when you say goodbye.” That can be so true. I know in previous friendships I’ve had, I’ve been so hurt. I’ve cried, I’ve felt lousy about myself… and some of those people are still in my life to a degree, but a very distant one. You know… the ones you wish happy birthday to on facebook and occasionally comment on their posts.

In order to get to a place of not being hurt anymore, I had to go through a period of shutting them out completely. I had to feel all the feelings and then get to a place where they could no longer hurt me, but also a place where I still wanted them to be happy and well. One person I run into now and again and they’ve mentioned getting together a couple of times. It’s funny, back in the day that would excite me to no end. However, now I don’t even get my hopes up because I know it’s not going to happen. It’s a good thing though, that I’m not upset by this. I kind of just laugh about it… like ok… sure we’ll get together.

I’ve had to stop comparing myself to their other friendships. Stop questioning why they grew close to someone younger than me, if maybe I thought age was a factor or whatever the case may be.

I’ve told myself for half my life already that people are in my life for a reason, and sometimes only for a season. That’s always been hard for me as I’m someone who loves deeply and doesn’t like to let people go.

The good thing is, when we let those people go, we are able to open ourselves up to new relationships, with people who don’t want to erase us from their memories but create new ones.

Friendship’s Growth

Friendship’s Growth
Friendship’s end will never come
For those blessed, certainly some.
Those that never lose sight
Of friendship’s true light.
Those that try and care
And those who are always there.
Those who put others first
And stick it out for better or worse.
Friendship is built on love and upon it made strong
With a strong foundation, that love can last long.
For love grows in friendship and friendship grows in love
And both are made to last with the Father’s grace above.
So picture all your friends, all that love can you see?
How much you must have, for you have so much from me.
I thank you for you love and kindness, for being my friend
I’m thankful for our time together, that there is no end.
What a wonderful gift, God has chosen to give
That in the midst of our friendship, God can truly live.
Renewed and made strong and able to know
How our faith in God allows our friendship to grow.
I thank you for your hugs and for the time together we spend
I am most truly blessed that God has given me such a friend.
Be blessed this day and know how much I care
and how wonderful it is to always have you there.
I love you beyond this simple phrase
For your life, to Him I give the praise.
 
~ Jen Vargas
 

July 14, 2004

 
For Becky on her birthday. Age 15

Count Your Blessings

Count Your Blessings
Families gather together for a festive meal,
For giving thanks to God is a major deal.
We give thanks for the wondrous things from above,
and thank God for the people who have shown us love.
Continuing to thank Him for all that he has done,
Yet most importantly for sending down his Son.
I have so much to be thankful for, that I cannot begin,
but the thing that stands out most is that I am accepted from within.
Some people do not take the time to see,
That they greatly affect who others might be.
There is always something in which we can be thankful for,
and still Jesus Christ continues to bless us more.
Family and friends are comforters here on earth,
They were the ones who have been there for us since birth.
Jesus Christ is still the greatest comforter of all,
He will always be there for us as we continue to call.
Still others you cannot help but love, for their love has shown through,
They see what’s in the heart and those others are the two of you!
Love is so strong and it is really why I am so thankful,
For people like you always make others so grateful.
This Thanksgiving I just wanted to say,
How much you have touched my life and to have the best Thanksgiving day.
 I say a prayer and I am sorry that we cannot be together,
but my love is sent and will always remain, forever.
You guys are the best and I thank you so much for caring,
It feels so good to be loved and cared about, so thank you for sharing.
Remember the feelings are mutual and I love you both beyond measure,
and your lives and presence I will forever treasure.
 

        ~ Jennifer R. W. Vargas

November 18, 2001

For Becky and Laura, who have always loved me. Thanksgiving. Age 14

No Greater Treasure

No Greater Treasure

There is something so innocent about a newborn fawn
Something so majestic about the daybreak at dawn.
Nothing more amazing than a child’s first word
Or the feeling of validation when someone is heard.
The pride one gains when they accomplish a task
The freedom felt, when emotions don’t need a mask.
There is so much beauty the world has to hold
So much to learn, that can’t simply be told.
An enormous amount of love to be found
Kindness and generosity are all around.
At times in this beautiful world, we face the dark
Yet in those times, we meet people who make a mark.
Those who shine their light when there is none
That is the majesticness of the night to the sun.
Their light cannot be hidden, neither can their heart
Those are the kind of friendships you long to start.
A glimmer of light that can help you find your way
A peaceful soul and confidant that brings joy to each day.
When you find someone who blesses your life beyond measure
You hold them close, for there’s no greater treasure.
That light you possess, won’t easily fade
Nor the impression on my heart you have made.
I won’t easily forget the compassion you show
The kindness and warmth, you allow me to know.
You bring happiness to each day that had none in store
You open up hearts that had been closed off before.
Thank you for opening up your arms and welcoming me in
The opportunity to know you, what a blessing it has been.

~ Jennifer R. W. Vargas

November 2016

For Rebecca, who is always honest, fair, true, and loving.