Be the friend who doesn’t look at the baseboards, the friend who overlooks the dirt.

Be the friend who comes to sit and chat at a messy counter still piled high with breakfast plates yet to be cleaned and junk mail yet to be sorted.

Be the friend who explains to her husband every week that the extra $20 out of the budget went to a couple of sisters who needed a surprise coffee and a smile delivered to their door.

Be the friend who sees your messy bun, unwashed face, and sweatpants and says, “Girl, you look cute,” and means it.

Be the friend who doesn’t wait for a phone call to reach out, the friend who invites your crazy littles over knowing the chaos that will ensue in her home.

Be the friend who sees your Christmas decorations still up in March and says, “Girl, I just put mine away last week.”

Be the friend who meets you in your mess and loves you in it.

Be that friend.

And if you have the pleasure of knowing one of them . . . hold on to her.