When I say ________ You say ________

We need each other.

 

We are living in a day, where we are told we are more connected than ever because of moment-by-moment check-ins on Facebook, hearts full of pictures we’ve hearted on Instagram, favorited retweets on Twitter and shared boards on Pinterest…

 

-without a doubt- I am more convinced than ever-

 

we desperately need other people to do life with….

 

and not just the online versions of us-but the 3D, real life breathing us

 

POP QUIZ!

IMPROMPTU

#1  I ask, “How are you?”

You say, “_______________.”

 

Did you know?

 

You what to know something?

 

I know none of us are fine all the time.

 

Here’s a tidbit from a recent conversation I had with the cowboy …

 

“I’m a terrible mother after 8:30PM.   You should also know, I’m really not all that good of a mother before 8:00AM. I’m mostly a midday mom.  You need to know these truths J and hear them from my mouth for the well-being and sake of our children.”

 

He smirked as if to ask me without words if we were really having this conversation.

 

“I’m not kidding. You need to know, I’m done. Like, d-o-n-e after 8:30PM! So, if you want to prevent the mom-bomb from igniting, you have to hear me and help me shut-this-down-like-down as in puppies-put-up-stories-read-wrestling-over-blankets-found-beds-made-bathroom-trips to the porch wrapped-devotion & prayer in the NAME of JESUS d-o-n-e by 8:30 because just-in-case you weren’t paying attention- after that, stick-a-fork-in-me-I’m done.”

 

J helps make me a better parent (and by better, I mean not a psycho).

 

 

This week a new friend needed extra love and prayer. She’s in a hard season. Really hard. Temptation is lurking at every corner.  Downtrodden.  She needed someone to cheer her on and remind her that leaving won’t make it better. She needed truth spoken into her life, a hug and to be assured she could love her husband again because Jesus makes all things new.

 

 

Another friend, fresh out of jail, needed to hear Christ has a purpose and a plan for her life.

 

While yard selling with momma yesterday, she told me about a phone call she had made the day before. A call to a young man, the son she never had, near and dear to her since he took his first breath. She begged him to not give up on his family. She listened to him cry. He needed to know someone cared enough to call and tell him he is not alone in his fight for sanity & sobriety.

 

 

 

A lifelong friend wanted to share and celebrate her new home with old friends. So another friend and I took a quick road trip yesterday afternoon to what felt like a never-never land.   Upon arrival we “oohed & ahhed”  over her more than completely precious farmhouse.  We shared coffee, exchanged decorating ideas, parenting WHOAS and lots of laughs because we could and we should.

 

 

Tonight a precious young-mother-to-be needed to know if her horse was a horse worth keeping. She asked the cowboy to test drive him lest the horse decide to try a wild west stunt and harm our eager to learn friend or her little angel. Thankfully the young horse deemed himself trustworthy. The young parents-to-be stayed & shared a meal with us because food is simply more delicious when shared with friends.

 

 

My sister’s baby girl graduated from pre-K last week. All umpteen dozen family members cleared our calendars, put on our Sunday best and showed up to celebrate our girl.  Together we pushed back the tears, clapped, whooped & hollered from the back of the big room because that’s what we do when our family babies graduate from anything.

 

Dear friend, may I ask you another question?

 

 

Who do you need today?

 

 

We weren’t meant to do life alone.

 

 

Today if I may challenge you to lay pride aside, stop trying to convince yourself that you’re fine if you’re not.  Take a fresh look in the mirror and ask yourself a couple of things,

 

 

Who do I need in this season of life? Who needs me?  

 

 

The trendy word for what we’re discussing is community.  It can be defined as:

 

Some refer to a community of people as their tribe.

 

 

How long has it been since you last looked your people in the eye?

 

 

Did you take time? or make time to really listen to more than their words but listen to their heart?

 

My youngest has been speaking with an Asian accent this week.  He cracks himself up.  His favorite line to say in his hu-lar-i-ous, southern-draw-like Asian voice is,

 

“You no liissten!”

 

Which has me wondering, is he speaking to me?

 

There are needy souls everywhere.

 

In our homes, workplaces, schools, churches, grocery store lines, ball fields…

 

 

Lots and lots of weary souls desperate to know someone, anyone cares.

 

We have a running family joke as to which of us sisters is most emotionally needy on any given day. We take turns.  Bless our sweet momma.  Yes to those considering our ages.  We are all in our 30s.  Each of us married with children.  Last week one sister needed help with her kids in the afternoons because her hub was working second shift. Baby sister declared yesterday she is going to be the needy sister next week because of her family’s jampacked to do list.  My family took our turn week before last because trying to homeschool and run a feed & garden store in the spring is cRaY !!

 

We love and double over with laughter at the little squirrel cartoon where he throws both hands up and says, “It’s not a competition!  We’re ALL crazy!”

 

My sisters and I, are not even-for-one-teensy-red-second in denial that we need each others prayers, encouragement, or laughter.  In addition, we have many times needed to borrow each others cars, clothes, (because we  take turns being the fluffy sister) because we also share leftover meals.  Childcare services, money, advice, support, love, and hardships are also fleshed out together because we weren’t meant to do life alone.

 

To those who are shouting at the screen, “WELL THAT’S JUST PRECIOUS FOR YOU BUT I DON’T HAVE ANYBODY!”

 

Yes.  You do.

 

His name is Jesus.  He is available 24-7.  365 days a year plus leap year.

 

He is your right-now-hotline.  He never drops a call.

 

He wants more than anything to be your nearest, dearest most beloved friend.

 

He wants to tell you, show you and share His unconditional, unchanging, eternal love with you.

 

In Him, we are made whole.  Complete.  New.

 

Christ is the only One who can feel the empty, aching crevices of our soul.

 

He is the One who sets us right with the Holy God of Heaven.

 

In Him, we find all love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility & self-control.

 

Lastly, it’s because of who Christ is and all that He has done for us that we are able to be who He intended us to be and do all that He intends for us to do for each other.

 

 

Cheering you on as you seek His will and way today dear ones.

 

As you open your heart, eyes and ears to those around you who need you and/or as you prayerfully determine who you need.

I love you to the moon and pray this day is a great day,

 

PS- Please share this post with at least ONE PERSON who needs to know you care