Simple Blessing of Friendship

You know, there are times in your life that you look and think, “That is clearly a God thing, because the timing is too perfect for it to be merely happenstance.” For me, that is my friendship with the beautiful Mandy. I met her through the group I wrote about in the last blog. I can’t explain it, but she and I became instant friends and in the last three weeks has been one of the greatest sources of encouragement for me. She stirs a fire in me to keep fighting, keep pressing on and finding resolution, to stop thinking so much, to “trust my gut” while still knowing when to tell me to just go for it. I cannot tell you what a blessing it is.

One of the areas that she is talking me through, because neither of us really have an answer, is with this whole dating thing. She is single, same age as I am, navigating the same confusing world. However, being removed from situations, we are able to discuss things and get a more unbiased opinion. One of the greatest things for me is that in talking to her I was lovingly told to stop thinking so much. I have the world’s greatest guy in front of me who loves me so deeply but because of my own “fears and insecurities you are unable to be vulnerable enough to let him in.” She said things today that made things click for the first time. One thing she said is that with the chaos my life is in right now, I won’t be ready for this relationship to be in full swing, but that this is something I need to cherish and hold onto. If I had different circumstances, I would probably jump wholeheartedly into this without looking back, because she said she could tell my heart was invested, but until some of the crazy is healed it won’t work. The prayer is that this guy will stick around through the muck and mud of my life right now. I say that, but he has done that so faithfully and unwavering for over a year now and for that I am truly thankful.

Today, I am thankful for the simple blessing of friendship. It may be ugly a lot of the time, however, when it is beautiful it is beneficial to stop and appreciate it.