There are a lot of people I’ve met over the years that would call me a friend that I wouldn’t consider a friend of mine.
Bare with me for a moment…
I grew up in a relatively large family whom I love very much. I had a wonderful group of friends that I still talk to today but there is just something about moving away from home that shifts your perception.
I spent almost 6 months at Sheppard AFB, Texas for tech school and met some ridiculously incredible people that took a very special place in my heart. Maybe it had something to do with being able to smile, laugh, and have a personality for the first time in a while. Maybe it was finding people in that same place in life.. almost rediscovering or redefining yourself. Maybe they really just are some extraordinary people! Either way I fell in love with them. They called me their sister and they meant it. They changed my definition of family. The relationships made in the short few months in tech school were just the birth of what I now call my Military Family.
My Military Family is out of this world. Let me tell you, there are some considerably crazy people out there… but those people would do just about anything for you and have done incredible things for me. Being away from my family in Wisconsin compelled me to rely on those around me in the military. I couldn’t tell you how many times someone has opened their home to me on a holiday, had me over for dinner, or just bought me a cup of coffee and talked with me about life. It’s people taking care of people. That’s love, that’s family.
More recently, I’ve gotten plugged in to a few small groups and churches. Believe me, there is a reason they call it your “Church Home”. Being surrounded by people who love and care for you is unlike anything else. In the past 8 months I have made relationships with more courageous women and Godly men than I had known prior. People who challenge me and hold me accountable. People who share my understanding of God’s Truth and have chosen to walk with me through this thing called life. Brothers and sisters in Christ, it doesn’t get any better than that!
So I have my family family, my Military Family, and my Church Family. Believe me, it doesn’t stop there. Friendships created quickly work their way into one of my family circles.
My list of friends is short. So short it’s almost nonexistent. If I honestly tried to start that list, I don’t even know where I would begin… but that’s just because my list of family is constantly expanding.
You may consider me a friend but, odds are, I consider you family.
