The Storms of This Life

Have you ever just thought about how grateful you are to be ALIVE?  Thank you Jesus.

This week has been wonderful in many ways.  I've spent the week with about fifty Somali Bantu kids from Columbus teaching them about God and spending time with them.  My church has been outreaching to the Bantu people in Columbus, so this week a bunch of us have put on a mini VBS for the kids, from preschool to 6th grade.  It's been a great experience... I'm in charge of about ninth 4th through 6th graders.  I've been able to connect with some of them and just be their friend.  They love to run (seriously, I've never seen so much energy), and sing and dance and shout.  There's been several more challenges to the week than I expected, but being flexible is part of the fun and growth of the experience.  A little girl named Fardosa today told me that she was born in Kenya.  She's 10 years old!!  I keep praying that God will open these children's hearts up to know Him, especially since they are all Muslim.  My job is to be an example and a shining light, which I pray to God is happening.  But to be honest, it's been three days so far, and I'm thoroughly exhausted.

 Face painting with the kids from my church :)

Most of my Bantu kids :)

Besides the craziness of this week helping at Somali Camp, another circumstance has occurred.  A dear friend of mine's mother passed away on Sunday night.  She died of breast cancer after struggling for two years. It's been a rough few days, just realizing the change that is taking place in their family.  And it doesn't even directly affect me, it just makes me sad.  But I know that God is working.  I know He is.  He has this family in the palm of His hand, and He's holding them tight in His arms.  Please pray for my friend Hannah and the rest of her family as they are dealing with her loss.

Sometimes I ask why.  Why, God, would you let something so terrible happen like that?

This song has helped me remember the truth. 


Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"


Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." 

And I know God's promises will never fail.

relationships

Sighhh.

This week has been both physically and emotionally draining.

On one hand, I've been working all week at a trapshoot tournament with a bunch of friends.  We've laughed, played pranks, and been annoying to each other all week... and all around had a good time.  And on the plus side, today was pay day.  Now I feel at least somewhat able to afford the majority of my summer wardrobe. I've had several friends graduate and got to hang out with lots of old friends, build new connections, and have some good conversations with some people I really enjoy.

The other half of this week has been rough.  My mom has been gone on a solo vacation for the past two weeks.  Although we've been doing fine without her, I'm ready for her to come home.  I'm tired of doing the little things that I normally don't have to do when she's here.  And to be honest, I miss her.  Besides that, I feel like I've been a roller coasters ride of sorts trying to address some things in my life that I normally don't like to think about.

Here comes a true depressing fact: relationships are hard.

I've realized that more than ever today.  In fact, this idea that relationships are hard has hit me like a ton of bricks over the past 24 hours.  Have you ever taken someone for granted??  You value them above anything, but you don't realize their worth until you feel like they're slipping away.  And then you don't realize that it's happening until it's already happened.  Or you're cruising along in life just trying to maintain the status quo in fear that if you bring up issues, the whole world will explode.

I've come to realize that I love people.  I know the best, most precious friends in the world.  But there are times when I feel absolutely helpless.  Like I don't know if it's me that needs to change, or them.  And the times when it's clear that the other person needs to change, it's difficult to keep loving them beyond their inability to see their own need to change.

I've come to realize for myself that one of the key ways to work through a relationship is communication.  But it takes two people to communicate.  I can't do it all on my own.  That's where the helplessness sets in.  I believe that it's better to talk about it than to sweep it under the carpet and bury it.  But the other person has to believe that too.

And of course, there's Christ's example of patience, forgiveness, grace, and love.  I of all people need more and more of Jesus in my relationships.  The times when I'm frustrated, hurt, confused, and lost... those are the times when I need to think and act like Him, in all His love and faithfulness.

And something else that I've been convicted of lately... don't ever give up on a relationship.  Even if it seems impossible, and you can never heal what's been hurt, I think there can always be restoration.

Trust me, I've given up before.  In fact, I still have given up.  But I want to change that.  I want to have hope.  I want to believe in healing and harmony.  I don't know if or when that will happen, but I know it's possible by the grace of God.

So I'm praying for it everyday until it does.