Friends

In the past few weeks, I have become aware of how significant the friendships I am making now are in my life and will be in the future. Growing up I had a lot of trouble relating to my peers and developing relationships in which I felt open to be myself and did not have to fear judgment or condemnation for my flaws. But God has been doing an amazing work in my life and has brought people into my life who are becoming the type of friends I have always dreamt of but never thought possible. It is such huge blessing to be with people who make me laugh constantly and who also want to see my growing in my walk with God and genuinely care about what is going on in my life.
I have so much enjoyed being on the other side of that as well. It is such a comfort to know that other people are struggling with some of the same things that I struggle with and I love being able just to be someone to listen, if nothing else. There are many times when I feel very inadequate and unable to provide any real guidance, but I am always able to listen, which is something I have learned to cherish in recent years.
These friendships have become an integral part of how I live my life and what it looks like. The tendency on my part is often to try to get through things on my own with no support. I like to think that I can do it all on my own, but that could not be further from the truth. The people that God has blessed my life with are here for a reason. As the body of Christ, we are meant to support each other and build each other up, and I have been seeing this in practice in a very evident way for the first time, and I could not be more thrilled and humbled by these amazing friends!
I tend to forget what an asset they are to my life, and my prayer is that I will be constantly reminded of how much value they add to my life and what God is doing through them in my life and in the lives of others.

To my dear friends: I love you and thank God for bringing you into my life! I pray that our Lord will continue to make Himself known in all of our lives as we continue this journey together...