Today I am celebrating the birthday of a dear friend.
A few years ago my husband and I, and our then 2 year old, moved to a continent that neither of us had ever been to. We both grew up overseas and had been seasoned travelers. But now, here we were, in completely new territory. I am not a big fan of goodbyes and neither am I a fan of the small talk that is often necessary in making new friends. We made friends. But none that I saw consistently or got together with regularly, or simply just did life with. So. Well into our second year in this new place I found myself praying for that friend. I even told God I would lay down and give up my preferences and prerequisites to having that type of close friendship.
And I did.
Not too long after that, I met this dear friend. I could never have anticipated that our friendship would be where it is now, which confirms all the more, that she truly is a gift from God--a literal answer to my prayer! We are opposites in so many ways but God has used that to challenge and grow me and shed light in the places of my life that need lit, in order that He might be reflected more clearly.
Happy birthday Jennifer! Thank you for your hospitality and your generosity. Thank you for your genuine openness to being redeemed, transformed, and shaped by Him who is the Creator of all things good! Thank you for doing life with me. It is a privilege to be able to celebrate the day that God brought you into this world!
A few years ago my husband and I, and our then 2 year old, moved to a continent that neither of us had ever been to. We both grew up overseas and had been seasoned travelers. But now, here we were, in completely new territory. I am not a big fan of goodbyes and neither am I a fan of the small talk that is often necessary in making new friends. We made friends. But none that I saw consistently or got together with regularly, or simply just did life with. So. Well into our second year in this new place I found myself praying for that friend. I even told God I would lay down and give up my preferences and prerequisites to having that type of close friendship.
And I did.
Not too long after that, I met this dear friend. I could never have anticipated that our friendship would be where it is now, which confirms all the more, that she truly is a gift from God--a literal answer to my prayer! We are opposites in so many ways but God has used that to challenge and grow me and shed light in the places of my life that need lit, in order that He might be reflected more clearly.
Happy birthday Jennifer! Thank you for your hospitality and your generosity. Thank you for your genuine openness to being redeemed, transformed, and shaped by Him who is the Creator of all things good! Thank you for doing life with me. It is a privilege to be able to celebrate the day that God brought you into this world!