Tag Archives: friendship

Dec29

DAY 363

Posted on December 29, 2013 by lsgrlr

We are not meant to travel alone.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

I have someone I am worried about. This person is about to embark (well has already begun) on a mammoth journey. One that will forever change the landscape of this person’s life be it for better or for worse. I have a suspicion that my friend is nervous about the life choice, but has already opened the door and now does not know if she can close it (which I am fairly certain she can’t because she has sunk all her money into it). Why am I worried? I don’t believe she is prepared for what’s to come. When she looked in the her future she saw only the results and not the work involved to gain the future she envisions. I am fairly certain that she will fall (I wish with all my heart I wasn’t), and when she does I am scared that the impact will be so hard, she may not recover. My biggest fear is that she will blame God for her choices. I am not sure how this happens, but we (mankind) tend to leave God out of our decisions then blame Him when it doesn’t go the way we planned. Or we make a plan ask God to bless it , never asking if the decision is right, and again blame God when we find out it wasn’t right. Today as I pray about having a long talk with my friend. I am praying for God to give me words, I am praying for wisdom, and I am praying that I do only what He has called me to do (I like to share my opinions too freely). On this journey people we love will make decision that look good, but can be bad. Our job is to be there, love them through it and when necessary lovingly, and respectfully tell the TRUTH…ALWAYS (and be okay if they don’t accept it). We do this knowing that we will one day make the same kind of mistake and we’ll need them to reciprocate.

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses” (Proverbs 27: 5-6).

So what am I thankful for today? Honest friendship.

Dec21

Some Stories Just Need to be Shared:

Posted on December 21, 2013 by lsgrlr

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My friend Lena just posted this experience on her FB status. It was beautiful and humbling, and a TRUE picture of friendship and the irrelevance of status and wealth. People should be judged by who they are NOT what they have.

Thank you Lena this story truly blessed me:

2 homeless men came up to my sister and I outside of CVS one was crippled with a set of beautiful blue eyes and the other was fairly normal he held the hand of his friend to help him walk. He asked for change to get a snicker bar to share so I said, “I’ll buy it for you”. They weren’t allowed in the store because people seem to be annoyed by beggars. So I bought them snacks and brought them out to them. I was humbled by their friendship. They stuck with each other for the sake of love that they have for one another. Then they invited us to church tomorrow. I swear in that brief 10 minutes I learned so much. – Post by Lena N.

Dec7

DAY 341

Posted on December 7, 2013 by lsgrlr

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Whether we are walking into the sunset or traveling in the dark, the journey is better with a friend. We are not meant to travel alone.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Today we had a family day. Shopping, walking, laughing, just hanging out. It weird how although we are in close proximity we don’t spend a lot of “family time”. Everytime we do it is always the best day. With that being said, today was the BEST day EVER. We are not meant to journey alone (I have said this before). We need people around us to build us up when we crumble. People to remind us when to: Smile, laugh, cry, and stay the course. Pushing through on our own will lead to failure. I read a quote today that said, “No matter what accomplishments you make SOMEBODY HELPS you” (Wilma Rudolph). I have heard this said more times than I can count, “I am a self made…” Here’s some truth NO ONE is self made. First we did not create us (we’re not God). Second no matter what you have accomplished along the way, someone helped you do it (no matter how small the assistance). The moral of this diatribe? Cherish those around you, be thankful for them. The journey would be long and lonely if they weren’t there to travel it with you.

“Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy” (Proverbs 27:6).

So what am I thankful for today? Family fun.

Nov30

DAY 334

Posted on November 30, 2013 by lsgrlr

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We are not meant to travel alone.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Tonight is GNO (girls night out), although today it is technically GNI, we’re having a potluck. It’s been a little while since I have spent some quality time with my friends. Just a reminder that, “No man (or woman) is an Island”, we are not meant to travel alone. This journey gets tiresome, we need others around to help hold us up when we are about to fall. We need others to cry with, and laugh with. We need others to share the good and the bad with. However, when life get hard or people fail us we tend to shut down and close off. I read a post from one of my friends today it went like this: “Not everyone cares about your feelings and experiences quite as much as you do. I’m realizing that and the fact that there is only so much I can share with friends. The don’t get it, they won’t get it, so I’ll keep my personal problems to myself. Lesson learned.” We are not meant to keep our personal problems to ourselves, if we could handle it on our own, they wouldn’t be problems. My suggestion, get new friends. Better yet make friends with the One who knows you best. He will never disappoint, and best of all He always has a solution, no matter what the problem. Not everyone is your friend this is true, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t “real” friendship waiting to be discovered. Seek and you shall find.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

So what am I thankful for today? Good friends, people who I can share my problems with (even when they don’t understand).

Nov18

DAY 322

Posted on November 18, 2013 by lsgrlr

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We can’t do it alone, we all need help on the journey.
(Picture taken at House Of Hope, S. Korea)

This will be a short post. On Mondays we have a bible study group that meets at my house. It’s led by my brother and I. Most Mondays I look forward to the time. However, today was a rough day at work. I came home flustered, tired, and NOT looking forward to serving others. Adding to my already not stellar frame of mind, I came home to find that my mom also had a horrible day, so horrible in fact she is contemplating not going back to work after the week ends. Needless to say, bible study and fellowship was not what I wanted to do. I thought several times about cancelling, but none of my excuses sounded reasonable, even to me. So the bible study went on as it always does, and am I ever glad it did. How I feel now is miles, and miles away from how I felt prior to the study. I feel refreshed, and renewed. People prayed for me, prayed for my mom. We got to vent and receive good godly advice in return. The thing I wanted to run from was the very thing I needed. Most times on the journey our M.O. is to run away. However, often what we are running from is the very thing we need. But because it is hard and uncomfortable we avoid, thereby missing the remedy. Today God reminded me that the answers are not hiding from us. On the contrary most times it is us who are hiding from the answers. Here’s some advice: (Even when you don’t want to) don’t hide from the answers embrace them.

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19).

So what am I thankful for today? Monday bible study.

Oct30

DAY 303

Posted on October 30, 2013 by lsgrlr

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Every sunset says, “you get another chance tomorrow.”
(Photo by Lisa R.)

Sometimes the people who exude the most strength are the weakest and most fearful. They hide behind a facade hoping not to get caught, but eventually all things are found out. Some one I respect did something that changed my view of them as a grown up. Why? Because the behavior exhibited was childish and disappointing. The thing is the person knows they are in the wrong, but won’t take ownership. I want to be angry, but I can’t because I understand where they are coming from. Have you ever done something that you felt so bad about, you couldn’t apologize? Even though with all your heart you wanted to mend the fence and build back the bridge, you couldn’t because of your shame and disappointment in yourself. I know someone who is feeling that way right now. I know personally what that feeling does to your insides, to your character, and self-worth. To that person I want to say, open your mouth. No matter how guilty and shameful you feel, still speak. Living with the guilt will break you apart, like shattered glass. You’ll forever spend your life trying to hide an ever growing and festering wound. Open up and take ownership, only then can you begin to heal. Allow the people you love, and who love you, to be the sap for your wound. Don’t run from the pain that the truth will bring, but embrace it, learn from it, and grow from it. Medicine that heals stings for but a moment. But a would left untreated will infect your entire being, Choose: momentary pain that leads to healing…or life long infection, that leads to misery.

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

So what am I thankful for today? Healing wounds.

Oct26

DAY 299

Posted on October 26, 2013 by lsgrlr

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Life is like the sun…it rises and sets.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Spent the evening with friends celebrating the union of my friend Stacy, to the love of her life, Phil. It was a beautiful and fun night, crazy things happen when we get together as a group. As I watched her smile, laugh, and dance. I realized how blessed we are to be able to share this moment with her. How thankful I am that she allowed me to enjoy this night with her, and to celebrate the beauty of a journey beginning. To my friends I pray that love, joy, and peace will be the center of their world. I pray that they will laugh together, cry together, grow together. Marriage is such a beautiful picture of God and His creation. On this journey we will have moments that require celebration, don’t miss those times, set them as a memorial. Because days of non-celebration will inevitably come, let our times of celebration serves as a reminder that life is not always bad, and days are not always non celebratory. Let the good days get you through the not so good days.

“This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast” (Exodus 12:14).

So what am I thankful for today? A beautiful night of celebration.

Oct1

DAY 274

Posted on October 1, 2013 by lsgrlr

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We should never travel alone. We all need someone to hold us up if we fall.
-(Picture by Lisa R.)

I had a talk with a friend today, it was emotionally jarring. Not because I was berated, or talked down to. But because she had so much going on in her life. The thing is, if she had not said anything I would never have guessed the gravity of her situation. I knew from just general observation that she was going through a bit of a hard time, but I chalked it up to “general” life problems. The thing is she’s not going through “general” life problems, she has “REAL” difficult life problems. The kind that leaves you feeling dejected, empty, and hollow. The kind that you need support to get through. Only she had become such a good actress that no one knew the desperation she was feeling. In her words, “I know how to be alone, I don’t know how to ask for help.” Today she didn’t ask for help, even as she relayed her story and her pain, her final words to me were, “I got this.” I left feeling like the the most horrible friend in the world. How could I not have noticed? Then I remembered: Cut to me nine years ago, feeling the same kind of desperation and despair, just like with my friend no one knew the pain I was going through. It is weird that in the moments that we need help the most, we fake strength the best. Here’s a little honest advice, if you’re hurting, let others know. No man (or woman) is an island. We are not meant to bear the burden alone, we can’t. God intended for us to carry the load together.

“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

So what am I thankful for today? Painful conversations.

Sep27

DAY 270

Posted on September 27, 2013 by lsgrlr

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Let’s heal and not hurt those around us.
(Picture by Rose Starr)

I saw this post on Lecrae’s (one of my favorite Christian artists) time-line today, it read: “Hurt people, hurt people. Healed people, heal people.” My first thought after reading this was, “Wow this simple statement is so very profound.” We live under the false belief that our emotions don’t affect our actions. However, the truth is we live, what we feel. If we’re feeling great we’re all smiles and sunshine. The world’s a beautiful place and we love everyone in it. But if we are emotionally broken, the world’s crumby and everyone in it, we become our very own version of Eeyore. This statement reminded me of the emotional healing that took place in me. There was a time when life held no joy, no love. I felt dark and lonely, like I was being followed around by a rain cloud (complete with lightning and thunder) that only rained on MY parade. But God ( 🙂 ) healed me. He brought me out of my darkness and placed me in His light. So for me this statement is true, when I was hurt I wanted others to hurt. Not because I hated or disliked them, but because I wanted them to feel what I was feeling. I wanted them to understand. But when I was healed, I wanted to heal those around me because I loved them, because I understood the darkness that was swallowing their souls. On this journey there will be those that hurt us because they are hurting. Let’s heal them in return.

“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).

So what am I thankful for today? I am healed, therefore, I heal.

Sep22

DAY 265

Posted on September 22, 2013 by lsgrlr

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Pray for the peace of Kenya.

I am having a worry day. Not because my life is out of whack, or because my needs are not being met. I am having an “anxious anxiety moment”, because I have a friend living in Kenya and I am worried about her well-being. It is interesting because I met her because of this blog. We forged a friendship through writing back and forth to each other. As I sat watching the news yesterday of the attack on the mall in Kenya, My first thought was about her. I realized I knew a lots of things about her such as: she has a great personality, a great sense of humor, she loves God, and has a heart of encouragement (she has from Kenya encouraged me many times when my day was less than stellar). But I don’t know anything about her personally, all the things I know about her are things that are beneficial to me (yup, selfish…I seem to always see that side of myself). I don’t know where in Kenya she lives, I don’t know if she has siblings, if she is married, single, or dating. I never took the time to find out about her. I think we do that so much with friendships, with relationships in general, they tend to be for OUR benefit and not symbiotic. This journey, is give and take, push and pull. It can’t (and is not suppose to be) all about “ME”. I have reached out to my friend, with no response yet. I am praying that she is fine, that her family is fine. Although I know she must be going through great emotional turmoil, because something so tragic has happened in her world. Please pray for her, her family, and the people of Kenya. Pray for healing and grace. Pray for peace. Pray that God will pour out His love.

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words” (Romans 8:26).

So what am I thankful for today? That God has my friend in the palm of His hand. I can rest in His love for her.