I started to post just to get MKRH off the top (she hates the spotlight), but as I scrolled through some pics to post, I found this one (that I LOVE) of another BFF(whom I LOVE)...I got to thinking how blessed I am. Truly.
Let me explain a little...
I am a creature of habit. I like order and some spontaneity thrown in to spice things up( I love surprises!), so I would probably stayed relatively close to my small hometown my whole life, but God had other plans and in those plans I have been abundantly blessed. Change is hard for me...always, but after the initial shock wears off, it's like peeling back layers of an onion to find blessings hidden in places I'd never look. God has moved my family (immediate and extended) to various places and I have never been happy about it. I've had to fight jealous feelings(for years) of those whose parents (and siblings) live in the same town and get to watch their grandkids grow up. I watched many a friend get put out with their mom or MIL because they are TOO close, when mine have not been for most of my adult life. I would have changed that about my life if I could...but...God has given me some things that many people don't have...friends that are as close as family. Friends who would fly to ABQ to be with me at the funeral of my beloved brother. Friends who would show up with bags of grocery items during my husbands chemo because they knew shopping for toilet paper was not on the top of my list at the time. Friends who would drive hours to spend less than 24 hours with us...just to be with us. Friends who would shop for VBS items at 10:30 at night because it was the only time I could and we could be together. Friends who would move us in and out of homes. Friends who would celebrate with us the births of children by waiting hours in the waiting room for one and then showing up at the break of day to welcome the other. Friends who watched my kids while I was out of the country or at a conference, etc. Friends who love, encourage, support, and strengthen us in so many ways. Every place we've lived we've made these lifelong friends. I've always tried to be thankful for that particular "season" of life when they were a constant. Now, though, when we are on the other side of the world...it is truly impossible to say what all the friendships mean...when a card arrives....when a care package arrives...when the newest Karen Kingsbury book comes in a single package...when a skype comment is left...when an email comes...when an "I prayed for you today" comes our way... when the burdens are shared, then the joys are multiplied. And then...add back into that mix the wonderful families we are so blessed to come from and who could ever complain about anything (other than not enough time with them)?
I am truly humbled that the God of the universe would bless me with these. You are one of these and I thank the Lord for you...daily. :)
2 comments:
This is perhaps one my absolute favorite posts you've written thus far. Love you much, and so thankful to be one of those with whom He's crossed your path :)
Dang girl!!--you got me all-mushy-eyed over all those words! I know they weren't all about me, but I so feel the same exact way about all my friends as well as the jealousy over "just wanting to live close to home" all the while knowing God's plans have been and will continue to be so much bigger than my scrawny little map I'd drawn out in my head. If it were left up to me my life would look like a homemade pot-holder made out of some old worn out feed sack material, but THANK GOD He is making my life into a Royal Tapestry. You, my dear, are one of the most beautiful threads in it. Thank you and I love you much.
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