Friends are so important.
When I say friends, I don’t mean people that you say “hey” to when you see them and keep it moving. People that you stay surface level with aren’t friends, in my opinion. A real friend goes way deeper than surface level. I believe that friends are people that actually care for you and about you. Friends that pour into you, pray for you, and check up on you and make sure everything is ok. And if things aren’t ok, they are willing to walk through it all with you. Friends correct you when you’re wrong, they let you know when you’ve messed up or made a mistake and they do it all in love.
I have been extremely blessed with so many great friends in my life and I could never express how thankful I am to have each and every one of them.
But, lately, it has been very hard for me. I haven’t really been able to reach out or talk to any of my friends’ back home and it made me wonder what our friendships will look like when I return from the Race. Will we still be friends? Where will they be when I come home? Its only month two and I’m thinking about returning home to my friends after month eleven, why?
The enemy really knows how to attack you in tough times…
I was going through a rough patch, recently, and I wasn’t really sure of how to even put into words how I was feeling. I found myself becoming easily frustrated and annoyed with everything and everyone. I found myself missing home and all of my friends and family. I just felt like God wasn’t hearing my cry out to Him in what I felt was a time of need. But He showed me in one of the sweetest moments that He had been listening all along.
My teammate, Allison, and I were having a conversation and she asked “are you ok?” I don’t remember what I responded with but I do remember telling her that I was really missing my girls, my old team, Team Redeemed. After I said that, I noticed her trying to hide her smile as she said “I have something for you.”
Allison brought me a folded up piece of paper with my name on it and walked away. After unfolding the note, I quickly realized that it was from Talia, from Team Redeemed. Talia wrote this note while we were in Spain and stated that Allison had encouraged her to write it for a time where I needed some encouragement or missed them.
A couple weeks later some of my teammates and I went to a cafe to work on some things and Allison looked at me and said “I have something else for you, too” and handed me another folded up piece of paper. I knew exactly who it was going to be from as I unfolded it. It was from Niki, also from Team Redeemed. This note was also for a time where I needed some encouragement or just missed them.
The enemy is no match for the King…
I am so thankful to have them as friends. The fact that Allison had it in her heart to have Talia and Niki write me something to read during a tough time, way before it even happened, means so much and shows how much they truly do care for me. They aren’t the only ones. This entire squad does and I appreciate it so much.
I just wanted to share this special moment with whoever reads this to encourage you to look at who your friends are. The ones you call “real” friends. Are they really that? Maybe you don’t have a real friend, you just have acquaintances? Maybe you need to go deeper with some of those acquaintances? Life is so much better with friends. I strongly encourage you to make real and/or new friends, friends like these three.
Allison, Talia, and Niki thank you for being great friends.
