Until now, I never realized how important friendships are. Just when I thought that everything, literally everything, was crashing down around me and I had no one to talk to, God sent me a gift. Three of my best friends from the base were able to mosey on up here to Liverpool and visit us last weekend. We had an amazing day at the beach, running in the rain, sand below your bare feet, singing The Sound of Music, and tremendous amounts of laughter. The next day we had another adventure walking along trails admiring Gods delightful creation and ended up having tangible conversations. It wasn't a discussion that was meaningless, yet it was deep and sincere. Questioning what is the right thing to do in certain situations and what would bring the most glory to God while sticking up for the truth were some of the things that were talked about. These things made me think. I'm not talking about letting the thought cross my mind for three minutes... But I mean really pondering.
Not only was I blessed with each one of my friends, but especially Sarah who has become one of my nearest and dearest friends. She has been an incredible Christ like example to me, and kindly reminds me to be more gentle, simply by her loving personality. Her encouraging words were like sweet lemonade on a summers day -- God knew how much I needed it. Simply being around her makes me feel more joyful because of how engaged with God she is. All this said, it was a refreshing and rejuvenating weekend to be sure. Which leads me to something God has been teaching me... Thankfulness.
I want to challenge you all with this. Be thankful. I don't say this casually... I mean it in a deep sense of being thankful. I don't know how frustrated I would be at this point if the Lord hadn't sent my friends here for the weekend and I am so incredibly thankful for that. The sun (something you don't get much of in England). My community. Dill pickles... YES dill pickles- another thing we don't have here! My amazing home church... the fellowship and genuine friendships that I have there. Real coffee. People who talk the same way I do and don't have accents. Driving on the correct side of the road. The "American Culture". My marvelous family. Living on a farm... These are things I have have taken for granted and I would have never thought I'd miss so much. Don't take things for granted. Look around you... smell the amazing food you have... Give a hug to one of your family members or kindred spirits... Take a walk in the gorgeous nature God has created... And last but not least, thank Jesus for these things.
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