Friday, April 8, 2011

Friendships


Today is the last official day of Spring Break. I still have the weekend but it doesn't really count because I have meetings to go to and worship to lead and papers to grade and lessons to plan. Because of course I put everything off to the last minute. That is Jen Brown.

It has been a lovely week full of laughter, movies, sightseeing, buses, not enough sleep, good conversations and friends.

It's been a defining week, relationally speaking. My friendships have been tightened and reaffirmed. Much needed quality time has been spent with those that build me up and make me want to be a better person. I have shared my heart and mind with those that care about me. I have learned how to love my friends better and how to communicate with them in a deeper way. I've added accountability and openness to already healthy friendships.

I've had times in my life where good, deep friendships have been lacking. Don't get me wrong, I've always had a lot of friends, people to hang out with, laugh with. But there have been definite times where even within those groups that I've felt isolated or alone. I think that's just part of my personality- to be the fun one. The one that's leaned on. The one that leads and laughs. I love those roles. I fufill my duties with pride. Let's laugh and play and have good discussions. But sharing my heart, the real deep me, well, it doesn't happen often. It's not expected or asked for. That's not my role. And I can accept that.

So it makes me happy that I have friends here, in a land far away from what's comfortable or normal, in a place where it's easy to keep casual friendships because of the transient-ness (new word), friends that I can be 'me' around. People that push me to grow and love and change. That allow for honesty and mistakes. I recognize how unusual and valuable it is to have what I have. I also recognize that I may not always have it...sometimes I think God is preparing me for harder roads...but that's another blog post.

I am thankful that I serve a God who knows how important relationships are to me and has provided the very best for me. Even in this foreign land.

2 comments:

Kay Day said...

I love this post! And I want you to know that your mom isn't the only person reading your blog. :D

Jen said...

Ha. Thanks Kay. I love me some comments. And not just from my mom. :)