That's Not Your Baby

First off, Friends, I want to thank you for your patience! This Thursday, we celebrated our countries independence, and I found myself wrapped up with family. So, this week will look a little different: Today's post will be the post usually done on Thursday, and later this week, I will be combining Monday and Thursday's post for this week so we will be all caught up.

Now that housekeeping is out of the way, take some time to sip your favorite cup of coffee (or beverage of choice) and take in today's story.

Re-meeting old friends is always exciting and a bit anxiety educing. You never know if they will be as excited to see you, if they would remember you, or if they care that you are there at all.

When I decided to go to the retirement party, I was mainly excited to see and celebrate one of my favorite professors and buy my favorite wine from the winery we were at (where I performed my last musical and got paid in wine, and it was amazing). Little did I know I would be bombarded with "blasts from the past," their significant others, and their children. One of my friends was holding her son and explained to him that Harper was my dog, and told me they enjoyed going through my pictures of my little furry bundle of joy. Of course, I was flattered, but responded with "there is no way that is your baby." In my mind, this incredibly beautiful and successful woman was still the freshman in college who played Little Red Riding Hood in Into The Woods...

I explained previously that it is easy for me to quickly cringe at moments passed and assume that other only remember me for my personal downfalls. If this trip taught me anything, it was that being reunited with familiar faces, no matter how long it has been, brings back a rush of memories...mainly positive and heartwarming.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

-Isaiah 43:19

This week I see this passage in a new light. No, I am not fully the person I once was, but she is still in there, she has just experienced more of life and learned. Who I was isn't wrong. This new thing Christ is doing in me is not being trapped in the fear of how I am or was perceived, and instead, enjoying those around me, appreciating the beauty they bring to the world...to me, and help me realize how incredibly blessed I am to have them be a part of my life. Even if for only a moment, they have brought a smile, a lesson, a light to my life and I can only credit that to the Lord. What a gift it is to call each and every one of those individuals my friends and my teachers.

I wish more than anything that I could name each and every one of these beautiful beings. You know who you are. I thank the Lord for you. You are a gift. Please don't forget that.

This Thursday check in for a story of an observed loving mentorship and maybe a way to help recognize and celebrate those observed relationships around you.

Until Thursday,

Cheers!

Sam Jo.