JKL explained it all. Jessica, Kim
and Leah. We stuck together through
out high school through all the drama, tests and extracurricular
activities.
Leah
was the shy English and history buff. Jess
was the loud drama and musical genius. And I was the science and math
nerdy jock. Yet we all came together through our friendships that were
grounded in our belief in God. We had plenty of differences between us
three that we could have separated us but because of our bond as sisters in
Christ we saw reason to be more intimate friends.
As we grew closer as friends we all started going to the
same Youth Group. We prayed together, discussed scriptures, and we shared
our inner most secrets with one another. As our friendship grew so did
our fellowship with other Christians. Our youth leaders
Heather and Josh
and our Youth Pastor Jim all helped us grow in our spiritual journey.
They helped us realize our self-worth and trust God with our entire life.
One specific event that I remember was Pastor Jim always telling us that he
loved us, even the first time he met us. At first my response was
“how can you love me if you don’t know anything about me?” But
no matter how resistant to this free love I was he would still repeat it every
chance he got. And I began to believe him that he did love me even if he
did not know all the bad things I have done. I know this type of
unconditional love that he showed us meant a lot to each one of us.
As we moved along in our high school years we continued to
face difficult reality checks like a classmate committing suicide, low
self-esteem, standing up for God in a public school, etc.
These
leaders that we had in youth group instilled in us that God created us and made
us for a specific purpose and that our self-worth comes directly from the
Creator.
Those core values led to fellowship that continues til this
day! Those truths that were etched in our hearts in our youth took us
through: going to different universities (Eastern Mich,
Univ of Mich, Mich State Univ), becoming responsible adults, deaths in families
(Me), marriage (Leah) and the workforce (Jess).
I am forever grateful to those spiritual leaders who
helped instill in me how God perceived me, a child of God, and refused to let
me believe that I am worthless or just a kid. All of those truths that
was taught to me continue to grow as do my relationships with Jess and Leah.
