This holiday season, as the cards started coming in, I decided to hang them from a cute ribbon on a door in my kitchen. By the time the holiday's were over, I had three ribbons from the top of the door to the floor, that couldn't bear the weight of the cards that were attached. As I look at the happy faces of friends and family that brightened my kitchen for a month, I am overwhelmed with the blessings that those cards represent. I am so thankful for friends old and new. I am so thankful for my family, just the five of us, and the entire extension. We are so rich.
As the holiday season comes to an end, I am eager to keep close to mind, the relationships that bless my life. My family is so loving an supportive. Sometimes people get hurt, sometimes life is hard, but they remain consistent and gracious. According to God's design. I also can't help but be thankful for my friends. I don't have one perfect friend, I have many friends that bless my life in different and wonderful ways. I have friends that challenge me, and ones that I make an effort to challenge. I have friends that I call when I am sad, and some that are just so much fun.
Lately, it seems I have seen and even experienced some hurt feelings by friends and family. I honestly can say, I am thankful for that. It reminds me how important it is to stay humble in all my relationships. I know I certainly make mistakes in my relationships. I do things that hurt, even if I don't mean to. It is also a reminder to me about the importance of my relationship with Christ. I want my relationship with my savior to be source of blessing and joy to him.
Relationship are often about the investment that you make. The more of yourself you put in, the more you get out. This year, I am going to approach my relationships with this truth. It is worth it to take time to go on a date with my Nate, or to stay in and listen, or to do little things for him. It is worth it to go out with friends. It is worth it to read for hours with my kids, or play trains, even though I don't want to. It is worth it to watch a friends kids, or bring a meal. Mostly, it is worth it to spend a significant amount of my time with God. It is worth it to do all of these things, but as I do, I know that those relationships will grow and bring more blessings into my life.
So, as I clean up my house, and put Christmas away, I am going to keep in my heart the joy of friendships and family. I am going to focus on loving Christ with all my heart and giving my heart to him. I am going to put myself into my relationships as I know it will enrich my life as well as hopefully others. I am thankful for my wall of blessing and the reminder those cards were to me, of how important and valuable those relationships are. I am richly blessed.
