My dream is not as world changing as Martin Luther King's, but it's a dream that could bless others. Honestly, it's a real dream I had while sleeping last night . . .
I am part of the Fabulous (ok that's my addition because these ladies are fabulous) Funky Freezer Girls. We are a group of friends who get together once a month and swap homemade frozen dinners. For example, one month I'll make 10 pans of chicken enchilladas and then come home with 10 different meals made by my friends. Each month we also make an extra "blessing" meal to give to somebody who is not in our group, but who we think would be blessed by having several ready-made dinners on hand. We have done blessing meals for a chemo patient, moms who have just had babies, someone recovering from surgery, etc.
This week a friend of mine and his family found themselves in a situation that would make them the perfect candidates for one of our "blessing meals". The only problem is the Funky Freezer Girls are in Arizona and my friend is in upstate New York. Dang geography. I went to bed thinking about how I'd like to bless this family with freezer meals, but couldn't.
While I was sleeping I had a lovely dream where the freezer girls had somehow compiled a network of similar groups across the country. In my dream we knew groups everywhere. In my dream these groups all had the understanding that we'd bless our local community and if one of us knew of a need we couldn't take care of ourselves, because of distance, than somebody else would.
How wonderful it would be to be able to let a similar group in New York know my friend's family would truly be blessed by having a full freezer and then . . . VOILA . . it happened! Likewise, someone in TX could let us know of a family in our area . . .
I know there are reasons it wouldn't happen (I mean, would you want someone knocking on your door saying "I've never met you or your family, but I met a girl online who lives in Arizona and she said you would be blessed by these meals . . .here's 10") On second thought, it DOES sound great . . .
Friday, January 14, 2011
Beauty of Friendship
In October I wrote about how I love facebook as a prayer tool and how thankful I am for the friendships I've been blessed with.
I've witnessed the power of both again this week. One of my best friends from college received horrible news this week when his 8 year old son was diagnosed with a brain tumor. There is a lot more to this story than is mine to share, but I have loved watching from a distance as friends from college have rallied around this family right now, eventhough many of us have never met this little boy.
I went to a small Christian college of about 2000 students. Of those, only about 800 lived on campus. It was definitely like living in a small town. Our freshman year we lived in the dorms and ate in the cafeteria together. By sophomore year most of us moved into campus apartments. We went to the same Bible studies and saw each other late at night "studying" at Denny's. Many couples met their spouses on campus while everyone watched them date and wondered when they were going to announce their engagement. (To give you an idea---I had 6 engaged roommates before I started my Senior year. Both of my roommates I had in the dorm were engaged by the time our freshman year ended!) It was definitely a different experience than my husband had in college by going to a large state university and living off campus, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Within that "small town" there were different circles of friends, but everybody knew each other and it was great (most of the time). Now that we're in our 30's we have lives that are quite different from the ones we led during those years, but it's been great to see those same friends rally around one who needs prayer, support, and encouragement right now.
I've witnessed the power of both again this week. One of my best friends from college received horrible news this week when his 8 year old son was diagnosed with a brain tumor. There is a lot more to this story than is mine to share, but I have loved watching from a distance as friends from college have rallied around this family right now, eventhough many of us have never met this little boy.
I went to a small Christian college of about 2000 students. Of those, only about 800 lived on campus. It was definitely like living in a small town. Our freshman year we lived in the dorms and ate in the cafeteria together. By sophomore year most of us moved into campus apartments. We went to the same Bible studies and saw each other late at night "studying" at Denny's. Many couples met their spouses on campus while everyone watched them date and wondered when they were going to announce their engagement. (To give you an idea---I had 6 engaged roommates before I started my Senior year. Both of my roommates I had in the dorm were engaged by the time our freshman year ended!) It was definitely a different experience than my husband had in college by going to a large state university and living off campus, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Within that "small town" there were different circles of friends, but everybody knew each other and it was great (most of the time). Now that we're in our 30's we have lives that are quite different from the ones we led during those years, but it's been great to see those same friends rally around one who needs prayer, support, and encouragement right now.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Joy in the Journey
As 2010 ended a few days ago my facebook status read "Good riddance to 2010". Though not a complete list, I did write a post a few weeks ago that outlined some of the difficulties my family and I faced this year. I had never been one to think of January 1 as a "new start" because,the blending of two years never seemed that significant. 2010 was a different story and I'm more than happy to have seen it leave. Based on what my friends have been saying online over the past few days, I'm not the only one who has felt this way.
Last night my husband and I went to church. While the pastor didn't necessarily frame it in that context, God spoke to me about the trials we'd experienced in the previous 12 months. The point of the message was that "God's joy comes through transformation, not substitution"
I am well familiar with James 1:2-4: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kids, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything" as well as James 1:12: "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." During my financial struggles I clung to those verses. While I'd never want to re-live those times I PRAISE GOD that I went through that and am immeasurably thankful for that period of my life.
As Jesus told his disciples the night before his crucifixion, there is some joy that can only be experienced after periods of intense pain: "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world." John 16:21
As I look back on 2010 I'm not sure what God was doing in my life since the difficulties we faced happened around us, not directly to us, but my perspective has now changed. Instead of looking back on the past year and bidding it "Good riddance" I am focusing on looking back and finding the joy in the journey . . .
Last night my husband and I went to church. While the pastor didn't necessarily frame it in that context, God spoke to me about the trials we'd experienced in the previous 12 months. The point of the message was that "God's joy comes through transformation, not substitution"
I am well familiar with James 1:2-4: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kids, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything" as well as James 1:12: "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." During my financial struggles I clung to those verses. While I'd never want to re-live those times I PRAISE GOD that I went through that and am immeasurably thankful for that period of my life.
As Jesus told his disciples the night before his crucifixion, there is some joy that can only be experienced after periods of intense pain: "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world." John 16:21
As I look back on 2010 I'm not sure what God was doing in my life since the difficulties we faced happened around us, not directly to us, but my perspective has now changed. Instead of looking back on the past year and bidding it "Good riddance" I am focusing on looking back and finding the joy in the journey . . .
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