Great Relationships Require Sacrifice

Today it is overcast and rainy.

It is a huge contrast to yesterday.

Yesterday was almost 80 degree's,

the sun shone brightly 

and the breezes were just right.

A friend of mine invited my daughter and I over for a time of friendship and food by the pool along with a bunch of young mothers who all have children who attend the local Children's Museum Charter School.

These women get together on a semi-regular basis and know each other.  Our host has been trying to invite me to meet the ladies and it finally worked out for me to come.  All our children were out of school Monday and Tuesday.

I love the dynamics that occur when meeting new people.  I've seen it happen again and again.  Face to face with others never leaves one unchanged.  If you are aware and observant, there are things you can note about those around you and connect in a stunningly quick way.

I love young Mom's who are raising small children.  I remember the days when mine were that small and the needs I had.  I would have loved an older Mother to come alongside me and encourage me in the ways of Motherhood.  I would have loved to have had someone to cook with and shop with and share heart to heart with.  Typically, when you are a young Mom, most of your friends are young Mom's too and busy with raising their own children.  I loved being with my kids when they were little.  There is nothing like being with little children who enjoy play.  When they are little, they are excited about little things like balls and swingsets, running around and discovering nature.  Discovering everything.

So my time yesterday was filled with little children enjoying this time of discovery and play.  Their Mothers busy keeping an eye on their adventurous toddlers who seemed ever so intent on going to the edge of the pool and climbing on lawn furniture toddling ever so precariously a foot above hard concrete.  

Connecting with these Moms took work. I had to follow them around as their toddlers were busy and active.  It's always worth going out of ones way to build relationship.  I've never had one relationship that wasn't built out of going out of my way.  The best ones I've ever had required a lot of sacrifice.  The more the sacrifice, the better the relationship.  I have to keep that in mind as I build brand new relationships here in Miami.  I've been kinda lazy.  I had built great relationships in my previous community in Indiana.  Somehow I came here expecting to pick up a relationship that is rich like the ones I left but I forget the years of work involved.

I remember now.  I have to stop being lazy and go make some sacrifices.  

It's an interesting concept to sacrifice to build a relationship.  It isn't an uncommon theme throughout the bible though.  God had instilled that kind of concept from the very beginning of time.  

Look at creation itself and the change that happened in the Godhead because of His desire to form relationship with His mankind.  Look at the sacrifices He made.  Look at the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made on the cross and the access we have to God now - a wonderful relationship we can have with God.  "Come to me", He says.  "...come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." "Cast your cares upon me..." "You will seek me and find me when you seek for me with all your heart."

Simply being with these precious women and children yesterday and being face to face with them gave me a connection that I don't want to lose.  I found out that none of these women have family here.  One of the Mom's I met, a vibrant Argentinian, waved her arm over the scene of young children all playing together and said to me, "We are family.  Look at all the children playing together." 

Don't ever forget that your very face and presence can make a big difference in a persons life.  You don't have to be a circus monkey to gain a following.  Just be the you that you are and shine.  Who knows what that gentle face and smile could do for another.  Don't be afraid to start again and build a relationship.  The world is starving for close connectivity and the rich life of God in you.

Thank you dear friend and host for never giving up and continuing to bring people together!