I have been blessed to spend time with some of the people I get to "do life" with as well as some new-found friends over the past week. I love how Christmas gives us more reason than ever to get together and MAKE TIME for each other. Whether it's a surprise 30th birthday party (that I thought was a Christmas party and didn't bring a gift...oops) or a birthday party for Jesus, I am thankful for the friends I'm surrounded with and how God places just the right people in my life at the right time.
Over the the past three years I have been lonely a lot. It has hurt. It has made me emotional. Sometimes I've responded to God the right way, and sometimes I haven't. But over the past few months, through making myself LISTEN to God and to voices He has put in my path, I have identified ways God was growing me in my loneliness.
As I evaluated this past week, I'm more thankful than ever for my friend Paula, who is probably more like me than she wishes she was...ha...but who definitely gets how I feel at times...so, so blessed to be where I am but also so tired and, admittedly, frustrated with it at times, too. I'm glad God put Paula in my life because she gets me, and she challenges me. I love you, friend!
I'm thankful for Rebekah, a woman in my very small group who I've just recently gotten to know but who has such a gentle and meek spirit. She challenges me in that way, a way that I've never really been challenged before.
I'm thankful for Mary who leads our small group with such grace. I love how she listens and counsels and loves.
I'm thankful for Jessica. Jessica is certainly the most appreciative leader I've ever worked under. She encourages me and prays for me. She rejoices when I rejoice, and she mourns when I mourn. She cares! I am honored to serve under her beautiful example of servant leadership.
I'm thankful for Emily, a newfound friend who has a heart for her children like I have for mine. Her passion for home education is similar to mine, and I hadn't found that in anyone yet. I look forward to getting to know her better and finding what else we have in common.
In this season, I'm thankful that God gives. For a long time I was seeing how He takes away, and it was necessary. And when He gives back, wow, is it awesome! I'm seeing His hand at work in ways I haven't noticed before. And I'm watching him place friends in my life to fill the void I had but also to challenge me in my walk with Him.
The great gift He has given me this year is the gift of friendship. Godly friends who love Him and me. So blessed...so thankful!
Over the the past three years I have been lonely a lot. It has hurt. It has made me emotional. Sometimes I've responded to God the right way, and sometimes I haven't. But over the past few months, through making myself LISTEN to God and to voices He has put in my path, I have identified ways God was growing me in my loneliness.
As I evaluated this past week, I'm more thankful than ever for my friend Paula, who is probably more like me than she wishes she was...ha...but who definitely gets how I feel at times...so, so blessed to be where I am but also so tired and, admittedly, frustrated with it at times, too. I'm glad God put Paula in my life because she gets me, and she challenges me. I love you, friend!
I'm thankful for Rebekah, a woman in my very small group who I've just recently gotten to know but who has such a gentle and meek spirit. She challenges me in that way, a way that I've never really been challenged before.
I'm thankful for Mary who leads our small group with such grace. I love how she listens and counsels and loves.
I'm thankful for Jessica. Jessica is certainly the most appreciative leader I've ever worked under. She encourages me and prays for me. She rejoices when I rejoice, and she mourns when I mourn. She cares! I am honored to serve under her beautiful example of servant leadership.
I'm thankful for Emily, a newfound friend who has a heart for her children like I have for mine. Her passion for home education is similar to mine, and I hadn't found that in anyone yet. I look forward to getting to know her better and finding what else we have in common.
In this season, I'm thankful that God gives. For a long time I was seeing how He takes away, and it was necessary. And when He gives back, wow, is it awesome! I'm seeing His hand at work in ways I haven't noticed before. And I'm watching him place friends in my life to fill the void I had but also to challenge me in my walk with Him.
The great gift He has given me this year is the gift of friendship. Godly friends who love Him and me. So blessed...so thankful!