I was able to spend the weekend with my friends Josh and Tara Bruce. I met them on the World Race back in September 2008. We were on two different squads, but I went and spent the month with them in Vietnam to help their teams get some things squared out. It was one of the coolest months of my World Race, mainly because I felt engaged, activated, and empowered. I wrote about it here.
It was interesting though because Josh and I just “clicked” right away. Things with Tara, his wife, was no different. We clicked too. I remember one day in Vietnam that Josh and I went out to have breakfast at some fancy hotel. We really just went to get away from everybody, journal, have some quiet time and relax in the A/C. Not sure what happened that day, but our friendship was sealed.
Josh and Tara live outside of Gainesville, so they came into town and picked me up this past weekend and we drove out to their place in the Georgia mountains. It was awesome. We caught up, ate some food, talked, ate more food, watched movies, and drank some coffee. And while there I also was able to admire their newest addition to the family, Isabella Grace.
What a beautiful baby girl!
Most of you know that I’m petrified of little children. In fact, when I was in Guatemala I wrote this blog that went into more detail about it. When I asked God what I should do to love people more, He told me to start loving kids. It’s not that I don’t love kids, it’s that I’m afraid of them because I don’t know what to do. I know, I know – get over it.
But I just want to take a minute and write about this family.
They ooze with love. I know that “ooze” probably isn’t the most endearing word, but hear me out on this. When something oozes it’s thick and it sticks. The love of God that they harbor and share amongst one another is infectious, and infectious in such a way that it gets on you and you can’t get it off. It just stays. And then when you encounter other people, they get it on them.
One of the coolest things to observe though was the way that they loved Isabella. They infectiously loved that child so much that it profoundly impacted me. I’m not sure how to describe it, but it made me value life. It made me value little babies and their dependence. It made me remember that God cares for us exactly how they cared for Bella… but better. It made me marvel at the Lord’s grace and how He’s enriched our lives with it to the point that we get to smear all over others.
It was probably the most relaxing weekend I’ve had in a long time. Josh, Tara, Isabella and I know that our friendships going to last a long while. We talked about it. They’re the kind of people I want to be rubbing shoulders with, doing life with, and hanging around. All three of them are like giant rods of iron butting against me and helping the Lord shape me into a better man.
May God abundantly bless you in the way you’ve blessed me and then some.
May your marriage be fruitful.
May Isabella Grace reflect the goodness of God’s beauty… and touch the nations with His fire.
And may all three of you make significant strides in the Kingdom.
