Iron Sharpens Iron
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. This week has proven so much to me. Let me back up. This month, this season of evolving in life has proven so much to me. The Lord is faithful. He is so good, y'all. During the times we seek and listen for His voice, He responds in His time because it is what is ultimately best for our life for HIS PURPOSE. He brings strength to the weary and rest to the restless. He gives hope to the hopeless and provides encouragement for those wondering in their faith no matter the circumstances for that particular moment in that particular day. He provides relentlessly.
I have been absolutely blessed beyond measure this semester (as well as in the past year) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Transferring from LSU after Spring 2011 and leaving behind friendships I had cultivated so quickly left me longing for automatic friendships to "just happen" once starting classes in Birmingham. Needless to say, through the past year I have learned friendships take work, time, and a lotta prayer. Friendships require stepping outside of your comfort zone, being yourself, and extending yourself to someone else vulnerably without hesitation of the response given on another's end.
Back in February I shared with you all about "the struggles of being a new wife in a new town still doing the college thing when her husband was doing the working thing". Don't get me wrong, my husband is definitely my best friend. Hands down, he is an amazing friend. We have built a wonderful community of Christian couple friends. But he is not a female. He is not a future educator involved in KDE or SAEA. He does not understand my infatuation with lesson planning, cooking, or shopping for "just the right teacher pants that allow me to get on the dot carpet". He is not always able to be here at home with me. He does not relate with me on every level of life, which is all totally okay and normal for every marriage Because the Lord is sovereign, He has provided me with genuine friendships that have been oh so prayed for over and over during the last three semesters. These friendships have evolved in His time, not mine. These friendships have sustained me while my husband is away. These friendships have allowed me to cultivate relationships, plant seeds, and remind myself to believe even when the pathway gets dim and His voice becomes hard to hear.
I have been absolutely blessed beyond measure this semester (as well as in the past year) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Transferring from LSU after Spring 2011 and leaving behind friendships I had cultivated so quickly left me longing for automatic friendships to "just happen" once starting classes in Birmingham. Needless to say, through the past year I have learned friendships take work, time, and a lotta prayer. Friendships require stepping outside of your comfort zone, being yourself, and extending yourself to someone else vulnerably without hesitation of the response given on another's end.
Back in February I shared with you all about "the struggles of being a new wife in a new town still doing the college thing when her husband was doing the working thing". Don't get me wrong, my husband is definitely my best friend. Hands down, he is an amazing friend. We have built a wonderful community of Christian couple friends. But he is not a female. He is not a future educator involved in KDE or SAEA. He does not understand my infatuation with lesson planning, cooking, or shopping for "just the right teacher pants that allow me to get on the dot carpet". He is not always able to be here at home with me. He does not relate with me on every level of life, which is all totally okay and normal for every marriage Because the Lord is sovereign, He has provided me with genuine friendships that have been oh so prayed for over and over during the last three semesters. These friendships have evolved in His time, not mine. These friendships have sustained me while my husband is away. These friendships have allowed me to cultivate relationships, plant seeds, and remind myself to believe even when the pathway gets dim and His voice becomes hard to hear.
The first semester at UAB sure wasn't easy when it came to making friends and finding those who have similar values, beliefs, and morals as I do. The second semester things became somewhat easier. This summer and within recent months, life has been such a blessing. Literally, it has been a breath of fresh air to associate with beautiful women (and some men) of Christ who have hearts of gold. From conversations on faith, sharing our family history, supporting each other through real world struggles, and just having a listening ear or encouraging laugh, each moment has been breath takingly beautiful. Thankful is just a word that honestly does not give justice for these relationships.
Friendship has always been a funny thing to me. Sometimes it is easy to connect with old and new friends. Sometimes it is easy to pick up right where you left off with childhood friends. Sometimes it is easy to loose touch with the best of friends and remain as only memories in each other's life. I am sure at one time or another we have all experienced one of these scenarios. Regardless of each circumstance, the Lord had a purpose for each relationship.
This season of making new friends has taught me more than I could have ever imagined. Being able to connect with others on similar levels, appreciating the diversity of another's lifestyle, and feeling accepted and even accepting another without thinking twice about what they wear or what their background includes is so beautiful.
This week I am so very G R A T E F U L and H U M B L E D beyond words for all of those the Lord has placed in my life who are leaving footprints in the sand of my heart through hugs, texts, emails, early morning smiles, and long nights of school work high fives. These precious people are teaching me to laugh at myself while standing in the rain, be selfless, shrug it off when exploding tea cups all over Chick-fil-a at age twenty-three, breathe easily through the stress of midterm evaluations, deviate from the lists on my planner in order to experience the unknown, love others unconditionally, support my husband in new ways, and I am sure this list could continue on. My heart screams thanks for the friends He has placed in my life. These friendships are direct mirror images of Christ.
Dear future self, Remember this season all the way from the valley to the mountain peak.
The Lord always works in our favor at all times for His good.
Sometimes it just takes a little while for us to see that He is moving.
THANK YOU to all the precious people who have reached out to me or have paths cross mine during this season.
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