Sunshine Dreams to You: A Love Letter To My Friend

I know you believe that all you have been praying for is lost, but that is a lie...from the enemy. I need you to repeat after me, "That is a lie. That is a lie from Satan."

I know the world seems crazy right now. Lots of opinions and hateful words. Family members warring against each other on every form of social media available to them. Unfriending or defriending. Who knows what it is anyway. You wonder do I even use my voice? Yes. You do. Now, more than ever. Your gentle but firm voice with its wisdom and love is needed, desperately needed; especially now.

I know you are sitting in your home praying, probably at this very minute, to a God you love asking, "What if?" and you wonder if he is still listening. He is. I promise you. He is.

I know you might have lost a son or daughter, and you are wondering what that means for your family? How will your heart go on? Where is God in this? God is with you...even in this sorrow and loss.

I know your love is gone. Words said. Hearts broken. The future, your future, forever altered. Where is God in this you ask? Will you ever laugh again? Smile? Love? Yes, yes, and YES! God will get you there...it will take time; give it the time it deserves.

I know you are searching for time with your family. In between the to do lists and practices and VBS. Where is the time for PLAY? It is there. God is in there too. He is giving you permission to rest. He gave it to you, spoke of it in Genesis, and he is reminding you of it now. Let him show you how; he will.

I know you are headed into surgery this week and wondering...will this be the silver bullet? Will I really feel better? Will I ever feel like myself again? Where is God in this? God is here, and you will. I promise.

I know your life is going crazy...new jobs and new towns and new adventures. Is it right? Wrong? Crazy? Probably a little yes to all, but you will be fine. God has surrounded you will love and support, more than you know, and you will be great!

I know that the bills are coming at you faster than the income and it feels like your health, your family, your finances, your dog...everything...EVERYTHING is up for grabs by the enemy. God is with you, and he will provide for you...and your family. Trust in him...even there in that icky space of money where so many of us are uncomfortable.

My sweet friend. I love you. I am here for you. I am praying for you. I am looking for ways to be intentional with you and for you. To love you well. I know the world is spinning faster and faster. I feel it too. I grow weary. I long to hit pause. I am learning how to, when I can, and lean on others when I cannot. Lean on me now, as I know I have and will lean on you again very soon.

Isn't that life? The dance of leaning in and on others whether in embrace, anger, hugs, handshakes, or love. We are strong for others and then they are strong for us. It is only when we are completely isolated from the acts of leaning that the enemy can take us out (literally or figuratively) and so we must be intentional in our allowance of others to love and lean into us and in return give ourselves permission to lean on others when our own strength is gone. Isn't that how we love each other well?

I wrote this post a week ago, but did not publish because I just thought who am I to speak to all of this?! Then I had nephews texting me Friday wanting some Aunt-time, a business partner needing some business time, a friend whose son passed away, another traveling for a long-overdue vacation that I hoped to see, birthday parties, illness, weddings, lost dreams, and I prayed and took the one physically closest to me and the one God was pushing me to be the most intentional to/with...so I worked late and took care of business and then I threw some bags in the jeep...and drove to my family....leaving others in the dust.

There will always be items on the list left undone, people left waiting, choices between priorities, and there is NOTHING you can do to change it. This is LIFE.

If I am to be more intentional with others, and I am determined to be, then I must also be intentional in acknowledging that there will be people and things I just cannot get to or serve well. *Deep Sigh*

Dear Friend, you are loved...by me, but even more by a faithful God. I will fail you, but he will not. Lean into his love and mercy to find ALL that you need...which will allow everything else in your life to be gravy and frankly ENOUGH.

A friend made this graphic in a group I am in, and frankly just that alone made me cry. Part of this I took from a Rumi quote and some from a line in my favorite childhood hymn...I say it all the time though...so I guess it is becoming my "thing"....mainly it represents to me the heart of TRIBE and what we all need to remember in being intentional with others.