When I was thinking of what to blog about this week, one thing came to mind: people. I have been tremendously blessed to have incredible people in my life and couldn’t have hand-picked a better collection. I think the connections we have with others is one of the greatest gifts we’ll ever receive. While I’ve always felt blessed, I guess it has just been magnified lately… and I’m so thankful! So this is a shoutout to all the great people in my life.
The community I’m in right now is filled with some of the most special people I’ve met. Partly, there’s an instant connection that happens when we meet somebody who has also done the World Race. But more than that, it’s a group of people who believe in walking alongside one another, learning their stories, investing in them, and calling them to higher places than where they currently are. A group that values just being with somebody more than what they can do for you. These are some of the most Godly, inspirational, and encouraging people I have known, and having them pour into me is an incredible blessing. My highlight of almost every day is a conversation I had with someone or time we just sat around with one another. Whether it’s the staff of our organization, my discipler, our house mentors, the girls I’m living with, the employees at my internship, or the other people doing this same program… they all speak so much life into me, and I feel like I’m becoming a better version of myself simply by being around them. It baffles me time and time again to think that I could grow so close to people so quickly.
Being here has also helped me to realize just how blessed I am by my family and friends who aren’t here. They’ve been a blessing for as long as they’ve been in my life, but sometimes we learn to appreciate people more when they aren’t with us. My family has been nothing but supportive of this, even when they didn’t fully understand what I was doing or why I couldn’t do the same thing somewhere else. I don’t think they’ll every fully know how much this means to me. The people who have believed in my journey over the last year and a half are so much of the reason I’m here. And those who are supporting me (financially and through encouragement or prayers) are helping to make this season possible. Sometimes it surprises me that so many people care about and are invested in what’s going on in my life… but it’s a beautiful thing because God is doing great things here, and I love that He works through the people around us and allows them to be part of our stories. On my birthday, I received more messages and phone calls than I can count and they made me feel so very loved and thought of. Sometimes I wonder why God chose to give the most wonderful people to me, but I’m so grateful that He did.
It’s been said that God loves us and blesses us through other people. It’s so true! I can’t imagine having a better understanding of what this means… because I’ve gotten to experience it so personally and fully in my life. Each new day, I find myself feeling even more fortunate and grateful than the day before. Life is just so good!
So if you’re one of the people who has blessed my life (and just by reading this, you ARE)… thank you. Keep being you!
