This is perhaps the most intimate blog post I'll ever write, and yet, I'll keep it vague enough that only the people needing to know or knowing its true meaning will understand it was meant for them...this is one of my favorite parts of writing.
Last night I remembered/was reminded of the importance of every individual person, regardless of what the past carried for that person, or what the future holds. Every person is worth fighting for. All of my beloved female friends came to mind. The ones who love me because they choose to, the ones who fight hard on my behalf, the ones who passionately shove me in the direction of my dreams, even when darts fly from other places.
I've always been acutely aware that I was well loved, no matter what, but it wasn't until recently that I saw a few hearts become lion like in my defense, and I realized, these people responded this way because I had loved them, and they loved me, too.
With this in mind, I decided to write a letter to these lovely people, all of them, to make them aware of all the things they may, or may not, know.
Dear Friend (and to the man who loves or will one day love you),
You are a joy to me.
Thank you for laughing with, sharing with, living with, crying with, sticking up for, and encouraging me. I'm not sure you know it or not, but, I love you, and if you're unaware, I haven't done my job well.
You have with in you things that I do not, you have the ability to be spontaneous, something that sometimes makes me nervous, you have the ability to be very bold, something I've had to work up to, and your beauty (inside and out) brings greater clarity to the meaning of "In His Image."
You remind me that I CAN dance, even if my feet don't do the dancing, and then, you dance with me...and what a ball we have, yes, a ball, like two princesses, dressed up with some place to go.
My love for you is immense, and I love living life with you. I may prefer to climb a mountain, and you to walk a beach, but no matter, we meet somewhere in the middle, and there we are. With all that is in me, I hope you'll always remember that the real you is worth its weight in gold, and then some, and some again. Hiding yourself means hiding truth, light, and the image God Himself desired you to convey.
A statue may be exquisite, take work, and be prized, but no statue ever loved.
The best part of friendship, I think, is learning people. Like onions. Peeling layers is fun, and to know all at once is boring, and counter productive.
I love loving you, because interaction brings new knowledge of the person the Lord made you to be.
My hope for you is that you know, always, the kind of glory you convey, the kind only God Himself could give you.
Perhaps you are still waiting for your prince, or maybe you've found him. No matter which, I pray he knows that you are a life changing instrument of God's anointing grace.
If I could tell him about you, I would say one of two things: She listens like spring, or She talks like June. You probably know this song, and if not, google it. In the song, the two refer to the same person, but, I think I have two kinds of friends, spring listeners, and June talkers. Spring is a joyful, forgiving, beautiful time when the winter has melted away, and the breath of God is more visible for the life returning. Spring listens. She hears the cries brought forth in the bleakest winter, and she offers a sunbeam Sometimes, she also talks, like June. This is Spring, and this is some of you.
Then, I have June talkers. June is a bright, warm, new month. June welcomes rest. She speaks for herself, speaks loudly at that, and ALWAYS says something. Sometimes, her spontaneity is overwhelming, and sometimes, she listens like spring. This is June, and this is some of you.
No matter which you are, I pray over you abundance, and that you would be scrubbed of your every scar, never to be so deeply wounded that love becomes something you can no longer do.
My prayer is that no one definition of "Christian" or "Jesus Lover" will prevent you from being a people lover, too. He said to be in the world, and not of it, so being in the world is our mandate, we have no choice.
I see this like a princess or queen, adorned beautifully and prepared to go before the court. She stands out. She stands tall. She is different, exquisite, known, set apart. Her clothing, her manner, her conviction, her words, her example, all make her different. She moves among the orphans, the widows, the weak, and the lost, she dines with the broken, the hopeless, the meek, she will eat lunch with a drug addict, but she will not share his habit, she will love the sinner, but keep herself from the sin. She is imperfect, flawed, and human, but she is set apart. This is you.
In heaven, you and I will dance, we will run, we will shout and sing harmonies, we will do cartwheels, and we will laugh until we cannot breathe. I want to thank you, because even though I cannot physically do some of these things very well, because of you, and HIS life in you, I do them every day.
I pray if nothing else, that I am a woman of intention, showing you His great love for you, and pouring into you as you have into me.
I thank you for the excursion, the trip to a world unseen by everyone else, a hidden place only we can discern...a secret. Your secrets are a gift to me, and a joy to know, and keep.
My life would not be the same without you, and you have carried to it a unique beauty no other could offer. Thank you for hearing, and for telling it like it is. The journey, though it may take us all over the world, will never part us in heart.
I am proud of you, and the woman that He made you to be.
He is prouder still.
Thank you for listening like spring, and talking like June,
All my love,
Court
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