Family and Friends

This time of year always makes us think about the things we are thankful for. Of course the phrase most often uttered is “I am thankful for my family and friends.” Now after being away from home for a bit over four years, I find that statement ringing more true than ever.

The holiday season also brings with it reflecting on the past year. I know this usually comes around Christmas or New Years but, this year I feel massive reflecting needs to be done so I am starting early.

It is hard to believe that it has been seven months now since I sat in tears at my computer worrying about what the next chapter of my life will bring. Thinking that the only way I would be happy or have a purpose was to go to Texas or Council Bluffs. Then becoming overly dramatic, giving it all up and thinking about moving to Africa for a year in order to serve. God then laughed at me a bit and said his plan was a little town of Webster City. Thank goodness He takes care of the details and I don’t need to worry (although yes, I do). I didn’t know why he sent me there but I knew after I accepted this job and nearly bounced out the front entrance this was going to be something good. (Yes, I actually remember saying with tears running down my face from fear, excitement and just being very overwhelmed, “this is going to be something good.”) While I was content with the feeling of “something good” I still knew I wanted to know/ find my purpose. Why was I sent here? What am I suppose to be doing? Why, How, When, For how long???? The questions still come but I have my amazing family and friends that remind me not all the answers are there right now and not all the answers will come, even in my lifetime. But as a great friend once told me, in summary of course I cannot remember the actual quote, “My faith in God frees me from needing to know all the details.” If God would like to spend time numbering the hairs on my head, I am sure he is just fine with taking care of what to do since my computer crashed, how to teach a massive unit on Lewis and Clark with veteran teachers who have been doing this for 13 years (stressful, I think so!), to what to eat, to what to wear. I can be, and am a lot happier when I don’t worry so much. When I am happier, I show the love of God to everyone around me a lot more. When I show the love of God, I think I am fulfilling my purpose! Which I think is to be happy in all circumstances and show the love of God to everyone around me.

Now for my tribute to my family and friends and a little lesson that I was taught in my last class at Central College from an amazing professor and friends, Dr. Esther Streed.

Allow me to teach for just a moment. In life people come in and out of our lives. We never know for how long and we never want to see them leave. When someone does leave we ask God why and how we will ever go on without them. But then God, without even a second to spare puts someone in our lives, not to take the place but to walk with us.

Now that you are all a little confused as to why there are lines separating my blog, let me explain. This was a diagram used to illustrate this concept. The darkest line is God, the  line above it is me. God is always present in my life, whether I acknowledge it or not is another question, but even when my line ends, his keeps going.

All the other lines are of the different people that have come and gone in my life, in no particular order and really no lines are assigned to people, just more to prove a point. Notice there is always someone in our life. God is always there and he puts someone else in our lives when another might leave. These lines are not just random; they are there for a purpose. As once again I was overwhelemed and didn’t know how I could survive after leaving home for Central, God filled my life with amazing people. Once again after Central I thought the world would fall apart, God has kept significant people in my life and filled it with many, many more.

Even though it is after Thanksgiving, I am thankful for all the people past and present in my life. For the family that picks up to visit because they think I need them, which I do. To the friends who listen to me whine, complain, cry, and be overdramatic most everyday of my life. I thank God every day for this life and that you are in it.

“Sometimes when God closes a door he opens a window.  But sometimes he does one better; he kicks down the entire wall.”- Unknown