friendships - the good, the bad, and the blessings

First of all, I want to say that you should go read

THIS POST.

My amazing friend Ashley wrote it and it is powerful.

And I am in agreement with her that if we all stopped to listen and learn and really KNOW each other, lives could be changed, friendships formed, opinions thrown aside.

And that if we are supposed to be in relationship, then we will be,

and if we aren't then we will be okay with that too.

But at least we will have approached each other with love from the get-go.

And we could be blessed and bless others.

We all don't have to be bff's.

I acknowledge that we are all created differently and that

we will all be in relationship with different people and different groups.

Thank the Lord for the ones He has picked for us each to be surrounded by.

I am thankful for those in my life whom I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has me in relationship with...even through hard stuff.

Sometimes that's where He shows up the most in fellowship.

And it's taken me a long time to realize this,

but I am also thankful for the friendships that did not stick around, for whatever reason.

Some due to life differences, locational distance, differing beliefs, and even false judgements.

I am thankful for those because it has grown me...

into the woman and friend I truly want to be, and it has taught me the kind of friends I want to surround myself with.

I used to try and "make things work" with certain girls,

or try and rekindle a friendship that was there in the past but has changed.

It was very hard on me to get past these changed relationships, but I have now come to realize,

that some friendships were for some seasons.

And that's ok.

I am by no means the best at being a friend.

Actually, I'm pretty terrible sometimes.

My best friend Nat would tell you that I'm HORRIBLE at calling or returning calls.

I've had to ask her forgiveness more than once...

and she always gives it to me without a thought.

(love you girl, so thankful for you.)

But I do strive to be better,

to go into relationships, new or old, with a sense of love and acceptance,

and an open heart to follow where the Lord might lead me in that friendship.

And I hope we can all try to do the same, putting aside our own insecurities or judgements and finding a place of peace in our friendships,

whether that means becoming best friends, or parting ways.

And I have to say here that I am thankful for the strong and genuine women

I am friends with through this blog.

And though I cannot begin to name all of these ladies that bless my life...

I hope that you will go "meet" them too, and be blessed by their hearts like I am.

Some I am just now getting to know but already love, and some I consider dear friends.

{I started writing out a little bit about each of these ladies, but Id be writing several posts if I did that bc I love them so much!}

so just go over there ---> to my sidebar,

and click on the links to each of those blogs.

You may just make a new friend.

Love yall.