Relationships…I must be honest and tell you that to me this has often been used in my vocabulary much as I would use a four letter curse word. And trust me, I have used enough of those in my lifetime to know what I’m talking about – and to which my husband has actually (on more than one occasion) washed my mouth out with soap. But that is a story for another day.

Relationships – they just seem to be one of those unsolved mysteries of life. Now understand I am only talking from my perspective out of my own experience – I certainly don’t lump everyone in with my way of thinking. But think about it for a moment. Relationships are so multi-faceted. There are the relationships that we have that are ‘surfacey’ – you know the quick glances and nods that you give to those you pass in the grocery store with the occasional mouthing of the word ‘hi’. There are those with others who you would like to go deeper with, but somehow you can’t even seem to scratch the surface. There are those you have to have – the default factor - because they are a spouse to your spouse’s best friend or they are someone that you work with and therefore can’t avoid. There is the spouse/significant other relationship – this one can be tricky, for they are either the one you divulge everything to, who know you at your best and worst or they are the one you try to hide everything from – not wanting them to know your worst, but thinking of you only as the best. (The latter is not the preferred way to go – FYI). There are those who always seem to make you feel better about yourself – be it by the sweet things that they say or the fact that they don’t do ‘xyz’ or don’t have ‘xyz’ and just knowing that seems to give you a bit of a boost. (Don’t look down your nose at me – you’ve had those kind – you’re just not admitting it). There are the unrealistic relationships – you know the kinds that you see in movies and therefore feel should be played out in real life. I mean don’t you ever just look at your mother-in-law, sister, or friend and think – did you not see ‘Beaches’ – do you need to re-read your script one more time so that you can get it right this time? (Please note the sarcasm).  There are the family relationships that can so often be fraught with misunderstandings, miscommunication and/or assumptions. And well, the list goes on and on. As I sit and think of all of the relationships in my life – there is not one that is the same, each is different, requiring a different approach, thought process and so forth. It’s no wonder that they can stress me (a most non-relational person) out!! To those of you who are all about relationships – my hat is off to you – you will have to one day reveal your secret to me.
 
Am I good at relationships? Let’s just say ‘no’ and keep going. But what would my life be like without them? Pretty boring for starters. The relationships of my life – both those that I’ve had and even those I’ve longed to have – have helped to forge me into the woman that I am. They have strengthened me, they’ve brought out my weaknesses, and most of all they have kept me on my knees before my Father. They’ve allowed for me to experience my most joyous moments and they’ve even broken my heart in ways I couldn’t even describe to you. And yet strangely I have headed down a new path where relationships are all that my life is about. It is more nerve wracking than I can fully describe to you, but it is also so incredibly rewarding. The building of relationships with the goal of introducing them to the One relationship that will forever change their lives. So what’s backing this long winded bit of rambling – just the sweet reminder of how dear relationships can actually be that I received yesterday from my friend Sara and that I am witnessing in my husband from so many miles away. I met with my dearest friend Sara who lavished me with time, words of encouragement, experiences from her life, small doses of reality, sweet gifts, love for my kids, a listening ear and a genuine care for me that I have not felt in a long time. She was my tangible Jesus – washing my feet in so many countless ways. While at the same time the love of my life has been at home – working long hours at his job – providing not just for my family’s day-to-day needs, but also providing in such a manner that I am privileged enough to stay at home with our kids. He has worked a long full work day each day and then come home each night to work into the wee hours trying to put the house back in shape. It is this same kind of love, genuineness and sacrifice of self that I see in both of these precious people, in both relationships that I share, that I realize I need to embody everyday with everyone I encounter. Yes, relationships can be hard – but they are necessary, they are vital and they can yield unbelievable results. To you my sweet Sara and you my handsome man – thank you for your love – thank you for reminder of Whose I am and Who I need to reflect in my life. I find myself eagerly awaiting my arrival back home that I may dive deeper still into the relationships I’ve begun and watch where the Lord will take them!

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