Last night, three of my friends in Iowa called me to pray with me before my team heads out tomorrow from Georgia on a five-week tour. These are the kind of friends who have cried with me when I’ve been at my absolute worst and have celebrated with me in the best of times. They have stuck it out with me – despite me.
They were very generous with their time and allowed the prayer to go on longer than most would have. They knew I needed it. As I reflect with gratefulness this morning, I realize they gave me a few priceless gifts:
Belief in me – My friends believe in me despite the imperfections. (They LIKE me – they really LIKE me!)
Permission to do what I’m doing – They said the words aloud, “We believe in what you’re doing. It’s time now to go and do this thing…”
Truth – They aren’t afraid to tell me truth even when it might sting. So, to finish the sentence from above, they said, “It’s time now to go and do this thing AND stop using your fear as an excuse.” (Real friends don’t let friends drive stupid!)
We all need people who believe in us, who give us permission, and who tell us the truth. This is love. This is true love. This is a tribe of imperfect people committed to journeying together through the messiness of life.
It’s priceless.
Do you have people in your life like this?
If so, REJOICE and give them a hug! If not, it’s time to passionately pursue relationships that go deeper than status updates on Facebook. It’s time to open yourself up and be vulnerable to people who can be trusted. It’s time to commit to journeying beside others despite the messiness. This takes time, effort, and commitment – but the benefits are priceless.
