Sacrificial Encouragement

Today has been long and exhausting. I have worn many different hats today with a job this morning, an interview this afternoon, a long to-do list in preparation to leave on vacation, a baby with fever...the list goes on, as you all know and can empathize. We had a little bit of time before dinner must be started, and my sweet husband said 'Why don't you go lay down for a little bit?' (Bless him for noticing I could barely keep my eyes open and was about to topple over.)

I go downstairs to lay down for an early evening power nap (as we still have a 9pm appointment on the calendar for today), and my eye catches some mail on the table. There's a Save the Date with an adorable couple on it and their wedding date (our anniversary). This couple is our 9:00 appointment tonight for pre-marital counseling over the phone. I see their smiling faces and immediately look forward to this precious time with them. Amidst the mail is a package addressed to me, and as I read the return name and address, I begin to get excited.

I tear into the package and find a sweet, autographed devotional book. But the true treasure is peeking out from inside the book. It's a handwritten letter from a sweet, dear friend and wise mentor. It's someone that I've been waiting to hear from for a while, but have also been patient, knowing that she is experiencing struggles of her own.

I laid on the bed and began reading the letter, feeling the excitement of a child with anticipation of what the pages would hold. I read, I cried and I said a prayer of thankfulness and petitioned for comfort for this amazing lady. I was instantly energized and no longer needed to rest.

There is something about knowing that someone is hurting and the impact they can have when they choose to reach out and touch others' lives anyway. That is the story of this woman's life and her heart.

I don't know if you will see this blog post, but if you do, you know who you are and I thank you. Thank you for your countless, selfless acts of kindness and encouragement. I am inspired by you and your example.

May we all seek to reach out to someone today who is hurting and offer vulnerability, encouragement, love and hope.

London is so lucky...

This morning I overheard my mom tell someone that I was dreading Brandon going out of town, naturally. My immediate thought was "No, I'm not. I'm fine." Then the rest of my day happened.

1. We went on a breakfast date, just my husband and me, to the Omelette Parlor. It was delicious and fun and we had great conversation. I just kept tearing up through the entire meal and trying so hard not to cry. Wow, emotions out of nowhere!

2. I kept trying to pick little fights with him all morning. I wasn't intentionally doing it, but when I think about it now, it makes a lot of sense. It's harder to miss someone when you're mad at them.

3. As I was driving him to the airport, I was very quiet (which is not really like me). I knew he would think something was wrong or I was mad. Then, I began to see with clarity how, by giving into selfishness and self-pity, I could actually make him feel guilty about going, deflate his excitement and ruin the day he'd been looking forward to for months. This is not how this was supposed to go.

So, I made an effort to pull myself together, say a sincere goodbye and be joyful for my husband. We talked on the phone four times before he got on his overseas flight, and every time I told him how much I missed him and loved him. Sometimes it's the simplest ways that the enemy attempts to use us for one another's discouragement, rather than what God intends to be an opportunity for a holy experience. In the end, I'm grateful that I'm sad the hubs is going away. If it didn't bother me, that's when I would really be worried...

You know the episode of Friends when Chandler and Ross are SO excited that Gandalf is coming to town? Then, he gets stuck in Chicago and they say "Man, Chicago is so lucky." At about 3:30 tomorrow morning, London will be so lucky, because Brandon will be there. Then, Johannesburg-Livingstone-New Day Orphanage. Then, in 12 days, Colorado Springs and my boys and I will be the lucky ones because our Knight in Shining Armor will be home. Can't wait.