Hello everyone! My name is Ashley and I am one of Hannah’s teammates on the race! This week my teammates and I decided to write a blog for someone else. In this blog I will be writing about the things I love about my good friend, Hannah 🙂
Hannah is hands down one of the most selfless people I know. I am humbled by her heart to serve, she doesn’t do things to please me, her peers or even herself; she does it for the King. Her heart to serve is a pure overflow from Christ’s love dwelling in her. Han reminds me of a sheep; gentle, quiet and innocent. She knows her shepherd’s voice, she listens to him, and she follows him to his gate. Hannah picks up the trash when no one cares to, she devotes an hour of time here and there helping the host family cook dinner, she delights in sharing the gospel on plane rides, she cleans the room and sweeps the floors when the rest of us are out and about, she spends her free time picking up around the school, she gets a new water jug when no one wants to get a new one, and she does it not wanting anything in return. She leads by example and devotes herself to people in love, honoring others before herself (Romans 12:10). She doesn’t flaunt the deeds she does simply because she only has one audience. The girl is a true gem to say the least.
One thing I love about Han is her big ole ears, she’s always willing to listen to me and hear me out. I believe that she would have a black belt in the discipline of listening, she’s got skill! In that way, Han really exhibits patience through listening diligently, she is committed to the conversation. She listens to understand, not to respond. She is slow to speak, quick to listen and very quick to bring it up to the Lord. In times when I need to vent or express my feelings about my past, present or future, Hannah is there in a heartbeat. Her eyes focus ever so carefully on me, she scratches my back, covers my body with a blanket, reads scripture to me, and prays with me in the hurt, pain, sorrow, and my many other emotions. Her love is kind, tender and gentle. I trust Hannah deeply and can confidently say that it’s because of her trust she has with the father.
Han is always at the fountain, slurping up all the water she can get! Han is so eager and ambitious to grow. She strives to always have her eyes fixed on the Lord, she wants to know the fathers love and wants to get lost in his mysteries and wonders (honestly something that is hard and scary for me to do). Her heart is steady which I believe is because of her contentment she has within the Lord. Throughout this journey I have continually noticed her unwavering faith. I love talking with Hannah about Jesus, honestly, we could go on and on. Her enthusiasm and heart to find God in every day is admirable and she reminds me to keep my eyes straight. Her thirst for the Lord encourages me to join her at the fountain.
The girl can fight. Haha not really, I don’t think Hannah possesses a single mean bone in her body. What I mean by this is that she will blamelessly fight for justice in the truth. She has been knocked to her knees since being on the race but time and time again she doesn’t crumble under feelings but humbles herself before the Lord. She kneels with her hands lifted high; her praise for the father seizes to end. As mentioned before, Hannah is super intentional about bringing things to the father in prayer. She turns back to the word ten times out of ten. She challenges my teammates and I time and time again. Han redirects focus to the father and fearlessly lives out her life in accordance to The Word. She has a deep desire for the church (our team) to grow, not for the sake of better friendships (although that is very important) but for the glorification of Jesus.
Hannah is more than willing to go out of her way to better serve the Kingdom. Her intentions are pure and righteous, she doesn’t do things out of selfish ambition nor does she do things just to do them; she’s on a mission. Well, I mean I’ll give the girl a break, we all are not perfect and falls short, Han will sneak an extra cookie in here and there or maybe buy one to many bags of chips at the store 😉 But for real, Hannah is someone who has a really clear conscience and has the self discipline to step back and seek God’s approval first. Her fruits are sweet and life bearing.
Another thing I love about Hannah is her love for people. Her love for me and others overflows from the love she has for Jesus. She has a deep rooted desire to pour the love God has given her to others so that they can grow. Han takes delight in calling others higher and wants to see Jesus move through me and my other teammates. She is willing to challenge us in a way that will glorify Christ even if it’s not the favored conversation. I love hearing her talk about her family and friends, she loves you all so much and she doesn’t take anyone of you for granted.
She strives to live every day for Jesus, even in the hard days when emotions seems too despairing and thoughts seem crippling. Her complaining is very minimal. That’s one more thing I love about Han, she’s a truth speaker and is quick to bring up God’s faithfulness in circumstances. Hannah has been stretched and challenged many times during this season of life, yes she has fallen short (don’t we all?) and yet she plants her feet on a truth found in James 1 when Paul writes, “Count it all joy”.
I love all of these things about Hannah however, the thing that I love the most about her is the love she has for the father. Her longing she has for him is seen so often through the vision of my eye sight. She relentlessly pursues Jesus and peacefully walks steadfast in the Lords truths. The Word is not just something she simply goes to in time of need; love lives in her and it is absolutely beautiful to witness.
Han, it’s been such a privileged to witness the father through the way that you love (1 John 4:12), you have exemplified God to me in so many ways, thank you. I am humbled and grateful to walk through this season of life’s ups and downs dear friend. I am confident that or relationship will continue past the race 🙂 I love you sweet Hannah.
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” Romans 12:10
“No one has ever seen God but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” 1 John 4:12
