Cherished

I was talking to one of my most Cherished friends tonight about a situation I'm processing, and I realized how blessed I am that God has honored me with a few deep relationships. She reflected to me that not everyone can handle the kind of candid approach I have to life. I realized this is true, and that my committment to being open, scares the life out of quite a few folks--and yet, I am called to be who I am. Although I'm still learning to wield who I am, as well. A critical lesson, to be sure. Pearls can get trampled--or misunderstood, or even handled foppishly by myself as I learn how to handle them. When I talked to my girlfriend tonight, we spoke a lot about what is on this blog, and what God is doing in/through my posts. I've been blessed to see fruit already and that it's impacting some folks, so I am quite blown away by that. I know it's God because of what's coming out of me. I know this: that even if no one is ever blessed by it again, I think it completely rocks, just being able to finally get it out of myself onto the written page. It's more than cool. Anyway, back to my conversation with my Girl--she and I have been through most everything together, and by that I mean--we have lived the same life in a lot of ways and a good deal of it together, including gaining weight together. When we both began to finally lose the weight, we started at the same top weight, give or take a pound. We've worn each other's clothes, lived together when we were young adults, etc. There is a deep, deep sisterly bond there. We have been through so much together--including the fine-tuning of the relationship. It is astounding to me that the Lord has given us each other, b/c we are sharing things now in weight loss that only two such intimate friends would feel safe enough to talk about--and she understands so much everything I'm experiencing because she's been there. That alone is a gold mine of blessings, but much more than that, God has given us both a belief in each other. We really see the beauty the Lord has placed in each other and believe in it. Everyone needs someone to know them well and believe in them. Of course, God wants to be that for us--our complete fulfillment--and he won't settle for anything less--he is an ardent suitor. But, isn't it delightful and humbling that he graciously gives us some people in our horizontal relationships through which he expresses the vast love and faith he has in us, because he knows the joy of knowing and being known? Those who can see your true potential and your rough edges who aren't scared off and actually enjoy you? That's a rare find in a human, and exactly the kind of relationship the Lord wants so much from us--to be unafraid and enjoying him, ever-growing in the knowlege of his potential. Safe enough in him to be real. Lord, I thank you for the friends you've given me that are faithful and true, that love the You in me. I thank you that they can see and want it. I thank you that you have given me an open heart, even though it can hurt a lot sometimes. I ask you to give me increased wisdom about where to open my heart, and also continue to lead me by your spirit, and let me see the fruit. It builds my faith in you, and I need and want more. Remind me continually of why I'm here so I keep my focus on your desires. I love you so.