The Gift of friends

I’ve been meaning to blog about my “precious gift” for a long time. (My holdup has been that I forgot to take a picture. What’s a post without a picture? This story would be so much better if I had a picture. I’ll try my best to paint a great mental picture.)

I have always felt like God put me into my teaching position. I had prayed (and prayed and prayed). And had almost given up hope when it came around. A few well-meaning people have suggested teaching at one of the local Christian schools in our area. While my life is totally arranged around my faith and it is who I am and teaching in a school of like-faith would be encouraging and pleasant…I can’t get away from the fact that God has put me where he wants me. There is a peace about it that I treasure. I’ve heard my pastor say many times that you are better off in God’s will in a wild jungle then out of his will sitting in your home in the great US of A (that’s paraphrasing).

The biggest benefit from my job has been the friends I’ve made that I otherwise would have never known. God has given me some life-long Christian teacher friends at my school. I want them to know I much I appreciate them and their friendship. On the last day of school they called me into my room. I couldn’t figure out what was going on. There was a big gift bag on the table. It was packed full of all kinds of goodies. (This is the part where I wished I took a picture). They had bought these for me to take with me when mom had her surgery. There were several packs of muffins, gum, candy, snack mix, candy bars (they know my love of chocolate), chapstick, magazines, books, paper tablets, pens, and much much more that I’m sure I’m forgetting.

There was also a card with money to help with traveling expenses and a hotel while in Nashville. This is the part that humbles me the most. All three of these ladies are at stages in their life where they need this money for them and their families. Their sacrifices touched me deeper than they will ever know.

More than these material items is the simple concern they show. Whenever I talk to any of them, the first thing that they ask about is mom. They know this is a huge burden on my heart right now. They always offer to do anything they can and express their prayers.

Friends, Thank you doesn’t seem like enough. I don’t deserve friends like you. I hope one day the Lord allows me to repay you. But for now…Thanks

P.S.The chocolate muffins were especially yummy!