“If you’re going to tell her that you’re into her and then date another girl, I’ll punch you. We’ve had enough of that and we’re not doing that anymore. If you are into her and you are actually going to follow through, you better do it right. Take her out on a date. A real date. Not just to dinner or the movies. Make an effort. She likes Batman, Starry Night, Pokemon, Harry Potter, and the moon. She likes cats and pandas and bears and the zoo. She likes feathers and thrift stores and nail polish and earrings and tattoos. Pick something, be creative, and surprise her. Hold her hand. Don’t kiss her until you’ve asked her to be your girlfriend and she’s said yes. If you’re going to pursue her, make sure you’re ready to commit, because she’ll commit to you pretty quickly if you let her. When you mess up, apologize. She’s quick with her forgiveness but you’ve got to ask for it. Hug her good and tight. Never negate her emotions – she is a rational human being made in the image of God and if she’s feeling something, there’s a reason for it. Don’t be afraid of her tears. Don’t let her tell you she’s fine when you know she’s not. Pray for her. Pray with her. Study God’s word together. Be fun with her niece and nephew – they mean a lot to her. Never hit her. Even if you’re joking. It’s not funny. Notice when she changes her hair. Compliment her. She’s pretty, let her hear about it. Follow through. If you say you’re going to call her, do it. If you ask her to hang out, don’t bail. Be friends with her friends. Be friends with me. Make her laugh. Buy her children’s books. Introduce her to new things and new people, but not a lot at once. Share things with her – she’ll keep your secrets for forever. Be intentional and consistent. Realize how blessed you are to know her. Above all, realize that if she’s given you the time of day, she’s serious about you. Respect that. Even above that, I’m over guys hurting her, so if you’re going to surprise her with a date to the zoo where you read children’s books and play Pokemon and then go for a walk under the moon and then you hug her real tight after you drop her off, you better mean all of it – or I’ll kill you.”

My best friend wrote that about me and sent it to me tonight. I’m pretty sure what made her do it. I’m glad she did. Everything about it was so perfectly accurate, and I loved that she wrote it about me out of the blue. I appreciated it so much and it made me feel so important and loved. I am beyond thankful for her. <3