“I wish we were sisters.”
My daughter and her bestie sign nearly every single note to each other with that one sentence.
Interestingly enough, they both already have sisters, but wish for just one more – that best friend that is the same age, the one they laugh so hard with, share so many of the same interests with, are comfortable with, silly with and never seem to tire of – they wish for that sister as well.
And I get it.
I don’t sign my notes that way, but I get it.
Sometimes we wish we could handpick our friends and family. The sisters that God gave us, the parents, the husband, the in-laws, the friends, the children – sometimes we wish they were a little different. There are times we wish they were a little more this and a little less that.
We are called to love. We know that. But sometimes it gets tricky. Sometimes we love with expectation and intentions. Sometimes we love like a cookie cutter or maybe a rolling pin, trying to form and shape our friends, our mother-in-law, our husband, into what we hoped they might be, into what we wish they were.
We’re not called to that kind of love, friends. Loving brave means loving others well, right where they are, today. I’ve been thinking through that and I’m writing about it over at Club 31 Women. I hope you’ll join me.
THIS IS AN AMAZING POST! I LOVE THE BOLD STATEMENT! FOR THE LAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON BECOMING CLOSER TO GOD AND LIVING A CHRISTIAN LIFE, BUT ONE OF MY MAIN STRUGGLES IS BEING SO JUDGMENTAL OF OTHERS AND BEING SO UNHAPPY WITH OTHERS BECAUSE THEY ARE LIKE THIS OR THAT OR DO THIS OR THAT. I’VE COME TO REALIZE, WE ARE NOT HERE TO JUDGE ANYONE’S LIFE OR LIFESTYLE. WE ARE TO LOVE OTHERS AS THEY ARE, AS YOU SAID!
::raises hand::
Definitely been guilty of that. I’ve really been trying to relearn how to choose grace over perfection in relationships. Reading the MIL mention was especially convicting!
I think it’s a continually intentional decision, Jenny. My reflexes are often geared toward I think is justice, fairness, defensiveness. While there is a place for those, grace turns some of that on it’s head. And that takes work! But I’m working on it right along with you. <3
Katie,
Loving brave is hard. Thanks for the reminder. PEOPLE make hard to love brave. Lol! You are absolutely right, though. Our love shouldn’t be based on what other people do or say. We know relationships are tricky. That’s how God chooses to grow us sometimes! Thanks!!
So true, Sheila. It’s an honorable challenge and one that doesn’t come with out effort (some situations more than others!), but the rewards are beautiful.