Recently we had a quite a few family and friends come to visit and celebrate Eric and I’s marriage. Needless to say it was incredibly stressful for a variety of reasons but it was also one of the most restful weeks I’ve had in an extremely long time. There’s something to be said about being surrounded by women who you feel completely comfortable with. Friends who I don’t deserve what-so-ever but bless me constantly everyday, regardless of how far apart we are in distance, or how long it’s been since we’ve talked. The entire week (ish) that we had friends and family here was filled with fun, laughter, and last minute wedding details. I had 8 lovely ladies running around with me constantly asking me if there was anything they could do to help, anything they could get for me, or a myriad of other questions. I was giving people tours of our new home and generally pulling my hair out {{I’m sure I was incredibly pleasant to be around}}. I’ve never been very good about asking for help so I wasn’t necessarily the greatest about taking everyone up on their offers. But there is one brief interaction that sticks out in my mind.
There are several moments that meant a lot to me from that week but this one stands out particularly in my mind because it speaks to the part of my heart that constantly strives for perfection. The piece that wants to be able to do everything on my own. Where I want people to look at me and think that I have “it” all together {whatever “it” is}. That I can handle it all on my own. The part that thinks I’m never good enough.
This moment speaks to my insecurities and says that no matter what, the only perfect thing in the world is Christ. It also says that these lovely ladies that I value so much are a representation of the love of Christ.
One of those 8 lovely ladies had just arrived at the house and I immediately jumped into the routine that had been practiced a million times that week already.
- *Hug*
- “I’ve missed you so much!!”
- “Do you want to see the house” “Can I get you anything to drink?” “{insert any other hostess-y question here}
During my flawless iteration of this performance for the millionth time, somewhere between showing off the kitchen and one of the bedrooms, Marion stopped, looked at me, and said “you know I didn’t come here to see your house, I came here to see you”
Then we went into total *hug* mode. That one sentence stands out so distinctly in my mind. I was so wrapped up in being the perfect hostess, asking the right questions, putting together the perfect wedding, that it never really occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, people just wanted to spend time together. Just to be.
And that’s what the week was really about. Spending time together, simply, without complications and resting in each others presence.
Obviously there was still the craziness of actually executing a wedding but despite that craziness, my heart was so incredibly full. Surrounded by my 8 closest friends with the most incredible servant hearts. I don’t think any of them realize how much they all mean to me and how much they truly blessed me in those 7-ish days but I hope these few words are a testament to at least part of it.
Additionally, if you’re anything like me, it’s incredibly difficult to find the same dedicated time everyday devoted to your relationship with Christ. Sometimes its the morning, sometimes its over breakfast, sometimes its at lunch, sometimes its the last thing before going to sleep. Sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day [{ as embarrassing as it is to admit, this is also the case some days }].
Well, I’d like you to join me in a challenge to combat that. I’d like for you to join me in celebrating #thefives. All you have to do is click this link and sign up for an accountability group. Starting on August 1st these groups promise to wake up at 5 am, 5 mornings a week and dedicate the first hour of their day to prayer. If you have to be at work at 6 [boo army] then feel free to start your day at 4:30 with me to embrace the full hour. I’ve done groups like this in the past, mostly leading up to a mission trip, and I will promise you that despite losing an extra hour [or possibly couple hours if you have a normal job], starting out your day peacefully, talking to/with God, will change the rest of your day for the better. And if you’re not a morning person {trust me, I’m not either} Jesus has worked bigger miracles than getting you out of bed at 5 am. So that’s my challenge to you, join me at #thefives.
Footnote Interactions 