Let me introduce you to my friend, Emily Fields! I love the story of how we met! It was February of 2017, and Beth Moore was hosting LIT, an event for women in their 20’s and 30’s with “fire in their bones to teach, speak, or write.” My husband accompanied me from Seattle to Houston, but I would have to spend the day at the conference alone. I knew it would be such a better experience with a friend. Before the doors opened, I looked over and saw this girl who seemed to be by herself. So, in an out-of-character move I asked if she wanted to be friends for the day; she said yes! Her name was Emily, a young college student from North Carolina. (Fun fact: it was her first time on an airplane!) It was an amazing conference, but it was even better having Emily by my side! Emily is brave, and she inspired me in many ways with courage that day. She’s the kind of friend that picks up pennies off the ground (introducing you to The Penny Story), the one who encourages you to go talk to Ann Voskamp, the one who knows the best place to sit. I’m grateful our paths crossed when they did, and that we’re still in touch. Sometimes you just need a friend like Emily. She’s on fire for God, her personality is reflected in her honest writing, and she loves Chick-fil-A. Need I say more?

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friend noun

\’frend\

Someone who loves at all times.

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“Well, welcome back. We missed you.” Words that just 12 hours before would have sent me off the deep end. But now – I was relieved to hear them. Two of my closest friends were sitting across from me on the floor of a recently cleaned CrossFit gym waiting for me to begin.

But the thing is…I wasn’t sure where to begin. I knew I needed to speak, but no words were available. I knew they were waiting for me to define why I had asked them to meet, but my mind went blank.

Isn’t that how it always goes?

We get all up in arms about something; whether it’s a comment made, a glance, or what is perceived as a purposeful slight. Then the time comes for us to confront the named offender only to realize that we don’t know what to say.

Before you meet, you play out how you think the conversation will go; you have a perfectly planned punch-to-the-gut aimed and ready to fire. A list of wrongs that have been made, a list of rights that should have been done.

Then you sit across from them and remember they’re your people…they’ve been your people all along.

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On Monday I attended a dear friend’s wedding and as her father made a toast to the happy couple, he referenced the parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15 and I was reminded how Jesus works in the most unexpected ways.

“When he came to his senses…” I had come to my senses, but only after throwing myself in – head first – to the fantasy world my mind had created. Six days of fantasy, allowing my mind to convince me that the two women sitting across from me did not care for me. Six days of fantasy, wallowing in the pit of self-pity and doubt. Six days of fantasy, where I forced myself to eat because my body was too stressed over the entire situation to allow hunger to be felt. Six days of fantasy, where I allowed my mind to convince me that these two women were better off without me.

“When he came to his senses…” I had come to my senses. That is why sitting across from them now, all I could muster up was, “I’m sorry.” I knew that my reaction had gotten out of hand, that my emotions had deceived me. What I said in the texts was just a front for the inward battle for control that was at play. Patiently these two women sat with me and confronted the dissonance within. When words finally began to flow, they were quickly met with forgiveness and grace. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” My friends had waited, putting up with my self-centered, sinful behavior, and welcomed me back in with open arms.

Proverbs 17:17 presents us with this fact, “A friend loves at all times….” This is a fact – a friend loves at all times. Not just some of the time, not just when it is convenient for them, not just when things are going good – ALL times. Lucky for me, the Lord has blessed me with a few friends that demonstrate this on a daily basis.

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My lovely readers, surround yourself with people who embody Proverbs 17:17 and will gladly open their arms for you like the father in Luke 15. Hold tight to friendships that are built from adversity, friendships that have stood the test of late night, emotionally driven text messages saying they would be “better off without you” (hi, guilty of that one). Do not let your mind convince you that you are not cared for or seen in this world – because if you step back and look at the big picture, you’re sure to find that you’re living in a fantasy world of your own making.

And when you come to your senses, not even knowing what to say, you realize your people are there.

“Well, welcome back. We missed you.” They’ve been there all along.

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Here are some pics from LIT! 

Emily (on the left) chatting with Bianca Olthoff

Me and Ann

The one and only, Beth Moore