Godly Friendships: Foundations That Endure

Join host DeAnna Byrd for the powerful conclusion to her two-part series on the value and enduring nature of Godly Friendships. This episode features a deeply personal conversation with her close and long-standing friend, Carrole Hedges, about the principles that have sustained their Christ-centered relationship for nearly three decades.

DeAnna and Carrole lay bare the truth about what it takes to maintain a friendship across different life seasons, personal struggles, and physical distance. They emphasize that the foundation of their friendship is the constant bond of Christ, which anchors them and allows them to navigate life's inevitable highs and lows with grace and peace.

The discussion delves into the profound necessity of having a "Holy of Holies" friend—a trustworthy, constant companion who serves as an unwavering prayer warrior. They stress the importance of unconditional love and radical honesty, highlighting that true friendship requires loving each other "no matter what" and speaking the truth, even when it is difficult or uncomfortable. This brutal, yet loving, honesty is what facilitates genuine growth and accountability.

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the power of personal testimony and the impact of God’s faithfulness on their lives. Carrole shares her incredibly vulnerable experience with a broken marriage and the subsequent, beautiful blessing of restoration through faith, forgiveness, and walking obediently through God's will. This powerful story serves as a testament to the hope found in God's promises and the strength drawn from having a faithful, praying friend.

This episode is more than just a chat; it’s a blueprint for intentional Christian living and building relationships that last. Tune in to understand the peace that comes from a genuine Godly friendship and be encouraged to cultivate your own relationships into lifelong, trustworthy, and prayer-filled bonds.

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Episode Transcript

DeAnna (00:06):
Hello, everybody, and welcome to Stories from a
Woman's Heart Podcast.
I'm so glad that you're joiningus today.
This episode is a conclusion ofour two-part series talking
about godly friendships.
And I'm so excited and so happyto have my longtime friend
Carrole Hedges joining me today.
Carrole, how are you doingtoday?

Carrole (00:26):
I am doing wonderful.

DeAnna (00:28):
I'm so glad that you decided to sit down with me and
talk about our friendshipbecause we've been friends for a
long time.

Carrole (00:33):
We have.
And I'm very honored that youasked me.
I'm very pleased.
It's a blessing.

DeAnna (00:37):
Well, you've always been a blessing to me.
And I mean, we probably go backwhat about 30 years?

Carrole (00:41):
A bout right.
It's been a minute.

DeAnna (00:42):
It's been a hot minute, right?
I'm gonna give you the honorsof telling everybody how we met.

Carrole (00:47):
So you can correct me if I'm wrong because I'm old and
I don't remember details verywell.
But I believe we met throughmutual friends at one point many
years ago.
And we were also in a sororitytogether at one point.
I think we've been throughseasons of life where we've been
very present and then someyears where maybe we weren't so
involved, but always there, youknow what I mean?

DeAnna (01:09):
Right.

Carrole (01:09):
In thought and prayer.
But we have definitely uh liveda lot of life.

DeAnna (01:14):
Yes, we have.

Carrole (01:15):
And all these years and many, many experiences.
Yeah, a lot of years.
I'm very thankful to have youin my life.

DeAnna (01:21):
Well, I'm thankful too.
And even though, like you weresaying, there's seasons where
we've been there daily, we'renot in each other's lives on a
daily basis, but I know thatyou're there.
Like if I called you and said,Carrole, I really need you,
you're gonna be there, you'regonna drop everything for me,
and I'm gonna do the same foryou, and you're gonna pray for
me.

Carrole (01:35):
Absolutely.

DeAnna (01:36):
Because we have walked through some stuff together.
I mean, you've been through thetrenches with me.
And I've been through thetrenches with you.
We've had some highs, we've hadsome lows, and you've been
there with me through the lows,and you've rejoiced with me over
all these years.
God has put you there, andyou've just been that lifelong
friend.
So, what do you think has beenthe dynamic for us as friends?

Carrole (01:56):
I think one of the big reasons that we've stayed
friends and and had that bond isbecause we both have a very
strong belief and a very strongrelationship in God.
And He talks a lot in the Bibleabout what a good friendship
is.
And I think that you and Ishare a lot of those qualities
and that call to be a goodfriend and what makes a good
friend.

(02:16):
I think without those things,maybe we wouldn't have stayed as
close as we are.
Like people come in and out fordifferent seasons.
And I think that's probablybecause there are some of those
qualities that are lacking orthat aren't where they should be
or need to be to sustain thattype of relationship and
friendship.
So, what qualities do you lookfor in godly friendships?

(02:37):
I think that consistency isdefinitely one.
You really have to, like withany relationship, whether it be
parental or with your spouse,you have to work at it.
You have to be present, whetherit's physically present or
whether it's having someone inprayer on a daily basis and
being a good prayer warrior forthat person.

(02:57):
I think that you definitelyneed to have those.
And that's important to me.
You know, you by far are one ofthe most amazing individuals
I've ever met in my life.
Well, thank you.
You're so gifted and talented.
And you just uplift and youbring so much peace and prayer
and love.
It's also going back to thatparental relationship or a

(03:18):
spousal relationship.
It's an unconditional love andfriendship where you don't
always have to agree.
You don't always have to seethings the same way.
But you love that personanyway, regardless of your
differences, right?
Whatever that might be,difference of opinion about
things or whatever the situationmight be.
But I think that's importanthaving a friend that loves you,
no matter what path you'rewalking on, where you're at in

(03:40):
your journey, a true friend inGod's eyes is someone that's
gonna love you unconditionallyand who's going to walk that
path with you and also behonest, brutally so sometimes.
Yes, yes.
Sometimes you don't want tohear it.

DeAnna (03:54):
And for me, you're that person, knowing that you're in
my life brings me such a comfortand peace that I know that I
can call you at any time becauseyou are the same.
You encourage, you inspire, youhave such a kind heart and a
loving heart.
And I love you so much.
And I'm so thankful to God thatHe's brought us together and
kept us where we are over allthese years because you've been
through some stuff with me.

(04:15):
We've had a lot of adversity inour lives, right?

Carrole (04:18):
Yes, we are.

DeAnna (04:20):
There's not many people, and I've experienced this where
I've walked through some stuffwith a friend, and then when it
came time to walk with methrough my stuff, they couldn't
handle it.

Carrole (04:30):
A hundred percent.

DeAnna (04:31):
Which was disappointing because you pray for that person
and you're there for thatperson and you walk with them
through their stuff.
And then when it comes time forthem to be there for you, it's
like, oh, well, I can't handleit.

Carrole (04:42):
Right.

DeAnna (04:42):
So you and I we've been through the trenches together,
we've had some adversity, somestuff.
I know you've been there andyou've never judged me, you've
never petted me and said, youknow, it's like, listen, again,
let me tell you.
So, what do you think about inthat situation where people are
that way?
How do you handle somethinglike that?

Carrole (04:59):
Well, that is definitely true, and that has
happened to me.
And I think that that goes backto really finding out and
knowing who your true friendsare, right?
Because that's really how Godlets you know that those people
were really not meant for youand to be in your life.
Because I have been throughthings and you have been through
things, and maybe the samefriends who claim to be friends,

(05:21):
but then when things got reallyhard or really tough, or maybe
you were stepping into a paththat you felt like God was
leading you down and they didn'tnecessarily agree with that,
they don't want to support youin that and they don't want to
be there for you in that.
And so they all just pass a lotof judgment and then turn their
back on you.
And I have had that happen tome, and it was very hurtful at

(05:42):
the time, very hurtful, becauseI really didn't understand why
that was the case.
But growing into yourrelationship and Christ shows
you that not everyone is meantto be in your life for a
lifetime.
Maybe, yes, those people werein there just for a season at a
time, and maybe it was to teachyou something that he wanted you
to know.

DeAnna (06:02):
I agree.

Carrole (06:02):
And I think in that he taught me what a true friend is
in his eyes, and how he can helpthose relationships grow and
develop and you become a betterperson, a better Christian, a
better friend, a bettereverything.
Through that, you learn to be abetter spouse, a better parent.
He really, really shows youthrough those kinds of
relationships why they don'twork and why these do over here.

(06:26):
It was hurtful at the time, butit was meant to grow me.
And I think that it did.
Looking back now, I'm notfriends with those people
anymore.
I don't communicate with thosepeople, I don't wish them any
ill will.
And I still pray for them andtheir family, of course, but I
don't miss them.

DeAnna (06:41):
Right, exactly.
And I think it just says ourmarriages need to be aligned.
We need to be aligned with God,first and foremost.
Any relationship that we're inshould be in line with God, and
that includes our friendshipswith each other.
Yes.
Christ should be thefoundation, and then we align
with Him, then we'll be in linewith each other.
I think that's importantbecause especially when you're

(07:01):
going through something, you'realigned with each other, and you
can come to that person andsay, pray about this, and
they're trustworthy because Idon't trust everyone.
I don't know why not.
No, I'm kind of kidding.
Right.
Because I've been and peoplehave broken my trust.
So I find I'm very cautious asto who I trust, but I do feel
like that the Holy Spirit givesyou that discernment of letting

(07:21):
you know you might need to stayaway from that person, or nope,
give that person opportunity, achance.
So when that trust is built,that's really good for me.
Yes.
I find that in my friendships,when I can trust that person and
say, Hey, I've got this goingon or I've got that going on.
I I don't want anyone to knowright now.
Well, you just pray about it.
I know that it's not gonna goanywhere but stay with you

(07:44):
between you and God becauseyou're gonna pray about it.
And that's hard.
I feel like sometimes womentend to like be gossipy, right?
They want to tell everythingbecause we're chatty beings, but
I love you being my friendbecause I can trust you and I
can come to you and tell youanything and everything, and it
stays there.
And you're gonna pray about itand you're gonna war for me.
Always.

(08:05):
To me, it's a comfort and apeace that I have because I
don't trust everybody.
And then I put people in mylife in three categories.
I do outer courts, innercourts, and holy of holies.
So my outer court would besomeone you say hey, and you
just kind of wave to them andsay hello.
And then your inner courtswould be somebody that's beside
you, but your holy of holies issomebody who's got your back.

Carrole (08:23):
Right.

DeAnna (08:23):
And girl, you know you're my holy holies, right?
So now I got your back, you gotmine.
Absolutely.

Carrole (08:29):
Always, always, no matter what.
That's so important.
And you have such a greatdiscernment.
You know, and you can basicallyread people, and you are
honest.
And if it's not good, I knowyou'll be honest with me.
And I think in times where, youknow, I've been through some
really tough things in life, andI've called upon you to really

(08:50):
pray with me and to show me someguidance and give me some words
for my own peace and wisdom.
And you've always been therefor me and you've always done
that.
And I am so blessed to have hadthat because I could have gone
many different ways in my life,and you've always been there to
guide me and to give me thatpeace.

DeAnna (09:10):
And you have too.
I know many years ago when Iwas going through a really hard
time, and I probably drove youinsane.
No, never, ever.
But I truly felt like at thetime I was gaining a lot from
you.
You were giving it to mestraight, and you weren't just
like, Well, I know she's goingthrough a hard time, so I'm
gonna be gentle.
You're gentle, but you're alsolike, look, I'm gonna give it to

(09:30):
you straight.
And so that's what I needed.
And I really drew so much fromyou.
I always tell my husband, said,You're never gonna know how
much I love you, even when weget to heaven.
So you're never gonna know howmuch I love you.
And I'm so thankful, even whenwe get to heaven, because I have
such an admiration for you.
Just knowing that you're in mycorner, that you're my constant
friend.
I know you're gonna be there.
I don't even know what thewords are to describe it.

(09:52):
I just know for me, the onlyway I can describe it probably
is just that you're my constant,my constant friend.
And that's such a peace andsuch a gift from God.
And to have that godlyrelationship, we need them as
women.

Carrole (10:03):
Oh, we do.

DeAnna (10:03):
And when we have that, you just hang on to it because
they're very few and farbetween.

Carrole (10:08):
They are.
And I think that's alsosomething I've come to realize
is that not everyone has thatblessing in their life.
They don't have that kind offriendship.
So they don't know how to bethat to someone else because
they don't have that.
They've never had that fromanother woman.
And so it's easy for me to beyour constant because you're my
constant.
It's reciprocal.
I know that no matter what myneed is or what my situation is,

(10:32):
if I call on you, and even if Idon't call on you, if I just
put a call out to my prayerwarriors, you're one of those
people, and you are 100% gonnajump in and pray for me
ceaselessly.
I know I know that.
I don't doubt it, I don'tquestion it.
I just know that it is, right?
So there's so much power inthat kind of praying warrior.

(10:54):
I feel bad for other peoplebecause they don't have that.
I do, I really do.
I pray that they get that backfrom someone and that they're
able to give that back tosomeone.
But you have been that person,you are that person, and you'll
always be that person.
And same Ditto.
So thankful for you.
I am too taught me so much overthe years, you know, because in
the spiritual journey, you wereway ahead of me along that

(11:16):
path.
And you were there and youmentored me, and you gave me
prayer and words andconfirmation of things that I
needed.
Some very dark times.
So you taught me a lot, and I'mso thankful for that.

DeAnna (11:27):
You've helped me along my journey and my growth in
Christ.
I just want to be a vessel.
And I was praying, Lord, makeme a better wife, make me a
better mom, make me a betterfriend, because we want to be
more like Christ.
And I want to be a better me inthose relationships.

Carrole (11:41):
To revisit when we talk about some of the bad times,
challenging times in thetrenches, going through that
with you, my constant dearfriend.
That one particular time periodof my life truly required a
whole lot of forgiveness.
And the Lord calls us to bearwith each other and forgive one
another if we have grievancesagainst others.
And at that time, in order forme to move my future, what he

(12:05):
had for me and for my family, Ineeded to do that.
I needed to practice a wholelot of forgiveness.
And I also had to practice awhole lot of patience, which I
wasn't good at either.
You always reminded me in manynights where I literally cried
myself to sleep, where you wouldalways remind me, your tears
are for the harvest.
Your tears are for the harvest,your tears are for the harvest.
And it echoed, it echoed withme every night as I went to

(12:27):
sleep.
And I needed to do some hardthings at that point in my life.
And you helped me with that.
I can't even express how muchyou helped me and how I don't
think that I would be where I amtoday without all of your words
of wisdom and without yourpatience with me while I was
going through all that, becauseit was really difficult.

(12:47):
When the world is telling youyou should react one way, you
really should do this, and youreally should do that in this
situation.
And when the Lord is tellingyou you should do it a different
way, right?
Right.
You have to do somethingdifferent and something that you
know you really didn't want todo.
I really don't want to do that.
I personally, I can't speak foreveryone, but I personally have
said, no, I don't want to dothat.

(13:11):
I've been there, you know, butit's because, of course, he
knows he knows the outcome.
The story's already beenwritten, he knows where it's
headed, and he just needs you tobe obedient.
You were there for me, and youalways reminded me on a regular
basis how important it was tostay the course and to do what
in my heart I know I needed todo, what he was calling me to

(13:34):
do.
And I'm so thankful for thatbecause my life has been blessed
so much by that and where I'mat today personally, both in my
marital relationship and as aperson, as just a human walking
this earth, you know, andpracticing forgiveness for
others in different situations.
Because I've had to do that inother instances as well.
Not just the one situation I'mreferring to, but other

(13:56):
situations as well, which wereextremely difficult and where
people said, I don't know howyou could have done that, how
you could have forgiven thatperson for that.
But just something as aChristian, where we just do
because we know it's the rightthing to do, is forgive, because
you do it for yourself, not forthat other person.
I did all that and went throughthat and walked all that, not
knowing if I was gonna actuallyhave the outcome that I felt

(14:19):
like he told me that I was gonnahave.
But that's also about faith,right?
Right.
That's his promise to you.
And I still refer to that todayas my promise because that's
another thing that you keptreminding me of.
And it's amazing, really, tome, at one point, somewhere down
the line, if I can be veryhonest, and some people may not
totally understand.
But my marriage was verybroken, horribly broken.

(14:40):
Not because I wanted it thatway.
It wasn't within my control,but truly, through all of that,
with you walking that path withme and being in the trenches,
being in the gap and praying forme and for us, no matter what
was going on, as you alwaysreminded me on the other side of
the mountain, Carrole, youdon't know what's going on over
there.
But you just have to have faiththat he's got it and he's
taking care of it.
And it's your promise.

(15:00):
And it was in my marriage, iscompletely restored and
reconciled.
That's one of the greatestblessings and stories I can
share with people.
That is a blessing.
And I think a lot of that hasto do with our friendship and
you helping me, being there forme, and praying for us, teaching
me how to pray on my own formyself, for my family, and to
get to where I knew I needed tobe, where we needed to be, no

(15:23):
matter what.
Stronger than ever today.

DeAnna (15:25):
And your husband is such a sweetheart, he's such a good
man, such a good person, andsuch a good husband and dad, and
all those things.
And I'm so thankful that Godrestored that because he had
such a purpose and plan for yourlives together that God is
doing, and he's just blessedy'all in such amazing ways.
And I'm so thankful for that.
And and I'm glad that I couldbe that person for you through

(15:46):
that.
And you've been that person forme through mine, although the
outcome going through a divorceand not having the outcome that
I wanted, I wanted God torestore.
And I prayed for that, but itwasn't the outcome that God
wanted for me.
Right.
And I had to believe God hadmade me a promise, and I had to
believe that God had somethingbetter for me on the horizon on
the other side of the mountain.

(16:07):
And he did.
Now, mind you, there's thatwhole waiting room.
You had to wait on that tohappen.
And sometimes God, in hisinfinite power and wisdom, he
can give it to you in a snap.
But what would we learn?
For me, going through thewaiting period, I grew
spiritually in my journey withhim.
He just began to reveal facetsof who he is to me.

(16:28):
But also, you were thereholding my hand, letting me just
be in those moments of beingvulnerable and just letting it
all out.
You just being there andwalking with me, encouraging me.
You were always not brash orblunt, but you were just very
brutally honest and said, Look,even when I found myself back in
the dating field, which was nota good season.

(16:49):
So through that, you even like,girl, what are you doing?
So, even through that, you kindof see, I don't think she
really knows me what she's doingthere.
You were just very truthfulwith me and very honest.
And you loved me through it,even when I was not probably
needing to be in the datingworld because it's just a
complete different thing.
When you're older and you'redivorced, it's like completely

(17:10):
different.
It was not for me.
Although God had somethinggreat on the horizon and he
brought my wonderful husband,them who I married to.
But through that, it got showedme who he was and he he
revealed himself to me.
And I'm so thankful for thatbecause going through those
types of things, I was able tokind of help you through yours,
being that vessel because youhelped me just as much as I've
helped you.
Believe me.
Girl, I got your back.

(17:30):
Yeah, I need I need to get myback, girl.
But for me, it's just been sucha wonderful thing having you in
my life and being there for methrough those things.
And God says that his promisesare yes and amen.
And although we may pray for anoutcome, God's no's to us mean
bigger yeses.
Absolutely, definitely true.

Carrole (17:51):
I believe that with my whole heart.
I have had the opportunity togive those same words of wisdom
to others in my lifetime.
It's a great blessing to methat I'm able to share what
you've taught me over the yearsand the words that you've gave
me that gave me such peace andjust you being present in my
life.
I've been able to be morepresent for others, to be

(18:12):
intentional.
Yes.
Absolutely.
And to be able to do that is Idon't know, it just makes me so
happy.

DeAnna (18:20):
It is, and it brings a comfort just having you in my
life.
I do have other friends thatalso been that to me, my circle
is very small.
I keep it small for a reason.
It makes me just feel better toknow that these are my core
people and I know they know meinside and out.
Right.
They know my stuff, they knowwhat God has done in my life,
and they know how I got frompoint A to point B.

(18:41):
They've been there with me andthey still love me, like you
were talking about unconditionallove and agape love.
And it's just such a blessing.
And there's just really nowords to describe it other than
it's just such a peace andcomfort because I find that
women out there, they can be alittle catty or very jealous or
they're insecure.
I mean, it's just somethingthat they have to work on
themselves.
I never want to be that kind ofa person.

(19:03):
So if you're my friend, I'mgonna be there for you.
I'm gonna do everything that Ican.
If you call on me and say, hey,will you pray about this?
Or hey, can I share this withyou?
What do you think?
What's your opinion?
I'm always gonna, well, let mepray about it.
Let me get back to you.
Or if we're talking about itand God drops something in my
spirit, I'm gonna share that.
That's the kind of friend thatI want to be.
Well, you are.

Carrole (19:23):
It's not you are too.
You want to be.
You just are, and you are, andyou're very real.
It's not something that youfake or that you don't pose.
You know what I mean?
There are some out there thatmay do it for a moment, right?
Yeah, for whatever reason.
That's not you.
I mean, it's true.
It's who you are to your core,it's who you are in your heart
all the time, not just some ofthe time.
All the time, you're thatperson.

DeAnna (19:44):
Well, you're always that person.
I mean, I we can sit here allday to just like to I love you.
I know how wonderful each otherwe are to each other.
But I wanted to read a coupleof scriptures and Proverbs 7:17
says, A friend loves at alltimes, and a brother is born for
a time of adversity.
And then Ecclesiastes 4, 9through 12, two are better than

(20:04):
one because they have a goodreturn for their labor.
If either of them falls down,one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls andhas no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together,they will keep warm, but how
can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is notquickly broken.
And to me, that whole passageof scripture explains our
relationship, I feel like.

(20:26):
I agree.
I mean, that explains us toodeep.

Carrole (20:28):
Uh absolutely.
Yes, definitely.
I am so thankful for you.
You're a blessing in my life.
I trust you with everything andanything.
I don't ever have to worryabout you breaking my confidence
or not being there for me.
I know you're always going tobe there for me, no matter what
the situation is.
You are honest with me.
You love me.
I mean, there's so many thingsthat defines a true friend.

(20:51):
And you're all of those thingswrapped up in one beautiful
package.
And I love it.

DeAnna (20:55):
Same.
It's like it's just how thiswhole scripture, of course, the
word is true.
And this is how we are to oneanother, to each other.
This because I feel the exactsame way you feel about me.
It's I couldn't imagine my lifewithout you in it.
Everybody needs a Carrole,everybody needs a Carrole in
their life.
I feel like, you know, womenneed more godly friendships in
their life.
Women that will pour into eachother like we pour in each

(21:16):
other's lives.
We should be the example tothose women out there.
We need more of that.
I always tell my husband, Ineed that.
I need godly relationships.
We need more of that within thechurch.

Carrole (21:28):
Yes.

DeAnna (21:29):
And I find it hard.
Like I have you, I know I havemy core people, but when I go to
church, just being able to makenew friendships.
So you do a small group or youdo a Bible study, and that's
where you can meet those samepeople and have those new godly
friendships.
It's new people, and you don'tknow whatever God can do with
that.
He can grow that in some way.
But just being around othergodly women and having those

(21:52):
relationships are so importantand we need them.

Carrole (21:55):
Yes.

DeAnna (21:56):
We need them.
And I'm thankful again for whoyou are as a person, as a mom
and a wife.
You're an example.
And I know you've been througha lot of things.
You've been through a lot ofstuff, but you have such amazing
strength in the way that you'vehandled it is with such grace.
If I could describe you, you'rejust a graceful, beautiful
human.
I want to just be who God wantsme to be.

(22:17):
I pray and just say, Lord, makeme who you want me to be in
every part of my life.
I want to be pleasing to God ineverything that I do.
If it be going to the grocerystore and maybe telling the
person that's checking me out,just starting a conversation
with them and maybe giving thema compliment about something.
Or I know a few weeks ago wehad those little mini Jesuses.

(22:38):
I had some, I thought, youknow, I'm just gonna pass those
out.
That's a way for you to sharethe lamb and let them know that
Jesus loves them and they havethat reminder.
But I also prayed over thoselittle mini Jesuses so that
whoever had them in their hand,it wasn't just about this little
bitty, mini Jesus, but it wasabout letting them know that
Jesus loves them, praying overthat so it went from my hand to
theirs, that God was gonna dosomething special for them and

(23:00):
to be a blessing.
And we want to be a blessing toothers and to our friends and
to our family.
I know that I want everythingthat God has for me.
And I want everything God hasfor you just to see his glory in
friendships in ourrelationship.
God can still reveal his glorythrough our relationships and
through our friendships, youknow, in our marriages and in
our relationships with ourchildren and our grandkids.

(23:22):
And I'm just thankful that weserve a mighty God who decided
30 years ago that we need to bein each other's life.

Carrole (23:29):
Amen.
Amen.
So am I.
And I want to say one lastthing about you.
And everything you just said isso true.
And you are God's love.
When you go out and youinteract with whomever it may
be, anyone, that's what theysee.
They see God's love in you.
And you're such a testimony toothers just by being you, and

(23:50):
that's what's so amazing aboutyou.

DeAnna (23:52):
Well, listen, you've made me want to cry the whole
time.
I'm like, oh my gosh, and Itried not to cry.
I appreciate everything thatyou've said.
You poured into me and you'vespoken into me, and you've been
that friend that's poured andspoken into my life that has
encouraged me and who's loved methrough so much.
And you just have no idea whatthat means to me.
Because, like I said before,friends come and go, but the
fact that you have been throughevery single thing, like God

(24:14):
said, This is who I she needsright here.
You're always on my mind, andyou're always in my heart.
So even if I don't pick up thephone and text, say, Hey, I'm
thinking about you, just knowthat I'm always thinking about
you, that I'm praying for you,and that you're always in my
heart no matter what.
And the blessing is I knowthat.
Thank you.
And everyone, again, y'all gety'all a Carrole out there.
Y'all can't have my Carrole,but y'all can find you a

(24:36):
Carrole.

Carrole (24:36):
Find you one.
I even get you a Deanna whileyou're doing it.

DeAnna (24:40):
I I don't know.
Some might say, I don't thinkso.
I don't know about that.
Well, Carrole, I'm so glad thatyou came today and sat down and
discussed our relationship andtalked about that.
And I hope someone who'slistening today that you'll find
some encouragement and someinspiration from our
relationship, our friendship,and that maybe you can have that

(25:01):
special person that will bethere with you through it all.
Like I've got.
Well, thanks so much forjoining us and we'll see you
later.
Thank you.
Bye.