Remix

 "I love that quote about not comparing your behind the scenes moments to someone else's highlight reel... I feel a duty to help shake the perspective that some people's lives are just good or bad.  We're all handed a mixed bag of joys and sorrows that play out unpredictably during our time on earth, but no one is ever stripped of the freedom to choose their response to these circumstantial triggers.  As Lincoln so wisely said, 'Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.' And I believe it because I've seen evidence of that truth in my own life."
~Facebook post by my awesome cousin, Ashley 

I'm writing this to process strong emotions - I am hurting right now.  God is kind and gracious, and He timed it so well for me to read the above quote tonight (or super-early this Friday morning, as it happens). #thankful

I recently reconnected with someone who has meant a great deal to me ever since 2007.  Being able to catch up and share parts of our stories with each other again has been fun and good for my soul, but it's also emotionally complicated, as you might imagine.  I'm truly happy that we're friends again and feeling encouraged by the natural connection and commonalities that still exist between us... but significant heart damage was done, and part of me feels visceral sadness when I see how we have missed out on several defining moments (as well as all the mundane details I tend to care about) in each other's lives.  At the same time, though, I believe to my core that God had a purpose in our time apart and that we are both better people for it.  I believe He always meets our needs, as opposed to giving us what we want or what we think is best for us ...which means we were each surrounded by the exact people God knew we needed to keep growing through that season.  I'm thankful for the ways I have grown and changed, and I know she is too.  So I'm reminding my loud emotions to be still and trust God and move forward with peace and joy now!  God is wise and He is good, and He's a big fan of the remix.  One of my Personal Commandments is to "Embrace the Remix," which means trusting God when He shakes things up because He knows what is best for me.  It will take my heart a little time to process this shift and figure out where we go from here, but I know there was a purpose in all that happened over the past 6 years, and I'm trusting that there is a purpose in how God individually grew and softened our hearts and led to us reconnecting now.  I am still surprised and thankful for that grace.  It feels like a sacred gift that we have a second chance to build a healthier friendship where we both add value to each other's lives, and I am praying (feel free to join me) for God to guide us and guard us in that restoration. ❤

"To love people requires that we keep growing personally." ~Shasta Nelson

Anyway, happy Friday!  Here's hoping our Oklahoma weather is not as crazy as predicted this coming weekend.  #snownado  And since no one reads posts without pictures, here's a pic from my "Write the Word" journal of some of my favorite verses.  Be encouraged, and make it a great day!  

❤ ❤ ❤