My oldest daughter was five as she walked up and down the sidelines of the Pop warner Football field. We were strangers and she keenly was aware of that fact.
"My mommy needs friends.. Come meet her." She would say time and time again.
We were new to Fort Mill, I was seven and a half months pregnant with Gregory and we knew no one. To the point I was concerned that Jim would have to stay home when I went into labor or we would be bringing everyone to the hospital because we knew nobody in the area.
Rebekah would approach this one woman, our husbands had met as had our oldest sons but we had not yet been introduced. We would each quickly recognize the fact that our families had already crossed each other's path.
This woman on the morning of her own birthday at 4:30am would come to our home and watch over our kids as Jim and I would go to the hospital and bring Gregory forth.
That he shares her birthday is a beautiful thing to me.
The names and faces of those that have filled my life and made the story of these years so very full are beautiful to me.
Memories strengthen me in these times of transition ... I came as a stranger and my path was crossed and I and my family were loved and loved well.
My eyes have beheld the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living and it is well.
I carry with me more songs then I came with, I carry the notes and melodies of others as they have surrounded me, loved me, laughed and cried with me...
This journey is weaving together a tapestry, a symphony .. A master piece... A journey.
I arrived knowing no one... Seven years later I have an album so very full of life and laughter.. Of love, of loss and of gain.
I am so grateful for this time of reflection.. I am so grateful for this pause that Father has me on...
To take the time and honor those who have made my life richer, to arise and acknowledge that I am stronger and more alive because I have heard your songs and you have listened to mine and we have journeyed together here in this place.
To those who read this know your friendship has been a great treasure, your life has enriched mine, whether briefly or profoundly I am grateful for those that came within the orbit of my life.
From the woman at the Chinese restaurant whose kindness filled out my life in the first days of Gregory's life ( and haven't seen in over 6 years), to the woman who was the Thelma to my Louise. Each has played a part, each lives in my heart and in my memories.
As I look back and allow the affection and strength of these moments to reverberate within me, I feel stronger. Why? I recognize and call forth the remembrances of all the times that I got to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Now in doing so, do I not remember other times, times of contention and times of loss? Am I in denial? No!
I recognize all the seasons that have encompassed my life and in so doing I recognize that both through seasons of blessing and seasons of loss I have been formed and grown. Through seasons of abundance and fullness to seasons of loneliness and isolation, I have journeyed.
Through each season I have learned, most magnificent lessons of friendship. To see people as I have longed to be seen, to cherish humanity as my heart as desired to be cherished, to comfort others with the comfort I have received.
I was a stranger and you welcomed me in and I was hungry and you fed me and I was naked and you clothed me... You laughed with me, you cried with me, you supported me and you walked with me.. You made me rich when I was poor...
Thank you... Thank you a million times over.. Thank you beyond what I am capable of expressing.. Thank you ..
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