The Blessing of Friendship

Today I'm thankful for friends. I am amazed at the incredible blessing my friends have been in my life. Over the past 15 years the group of my closest friends has changed several times, depending on where I've been, but in each season that group of people has meant the world to me. I often wonder why these people have loved me. I know there's nothing that incredible about me, I don't say that in a self-deprecating way, but honestly knowing my faults I don't see a reason. So I'm thankful for the blessing that they are.

There are times when I get discouraged by the fact I've had to leave so many groups of friends. Saying goodbye is never easy especially if you don't know if those relationships will ever be the same. But today I'm able to see the blessing of having had so many godly people who have surrounded me and walked with me in this journey. We laugh, cry, travel and learn together. So if you're one of these people, I want to thank you; you've challenged and encouraged me in my walk with the Lord and have blessed me beyond what words can express. It's easy to hold on to the past and long for nothing to change. I'm beginning to see that by looking at the past I can trust that wherever the Lord leads me he will also provide fellowship with friends, whoever they may be.