"Thirty & Thriving" 💐

 

*Sigh* ugh.   

Made it to 30. Alive and living in abundance. [John 10:10] 

The past decade was crazy. 🥺 

Almost took me OUT! there were moments I thought I wouldn't make it out alive. That I had no purpose; that life wasn't worth living; that nobody cared if I lived (or died); that nothing was EVER gonna work out for me, the way it was working out for everyone else; that my portion was misery and heartache over and over and over again. 

I got so used to feeling down, that I was always looking out for something horrible to happen. Because it was just my portion. I had a good life growing up and now it's my turn to "suffer" of some sort. 

Fortunately for me, I was brought up around the mention of one name. This name that the parents said their prayers to and taught us to do the same; this name called Jireh that provided when we had nothing; this name that demons flee from when mentioned; this name that we were told to claim when in doubt or fear; this name that is closer than a brother; this name that is PRESENT and always working things out for us. 

I got hooked early. I witnessed cool things unfold at the mention of this name. I couldn't back out/down. Life was a bliss. 

... Until circumstances started to change. Life got rocky 10 years ago. Everything that my short teenage life was built on, was shaken and torn apart - family, faith and fun. Like a little girl that doesnt know how to swim, i started to sink, desperate for air, looking for support in the familiar places and got hurt even more. 

I called out for the name. Time and time again, peace ruled out the storm and the waves of my storms and I was kept. afloat. 

And there was this tribe. Gods provision. This tribe that I connected with early before things got too rocky. Met through CRU Bible studies and events. This tribe showed up and kept me over and over. And over again like they were getting paid for it. I didn't understand the kindness, it didn't make sense. They owe me nothing. But they showed up. And stayed. Wherever God led me. They were  Mostly for the fun of things. But it did so much more for my fragile stormy internals. 

Friendship kept me afloat. With God and them. All I had to do was be present. (Really I had no other choice. I was forced to be present.lol.) but  I've learnt so much tho. Friendship grew me, kept me, and blessed me in season and out of season! Friendship pushed me to live again. 

Now as I look back on all of the stormy things that almost took me OUT, I remember fondly how friendship was there...at the mention of this name, Jesus. Friendship did the thing for me. And so I will always fight for it. In all of the spaces I'm PLACED in, friendship is key. 

Jesus through friendship was/is my salvation.  

At 30 I am convinced that ..through Jesus & friendship I am on this earth for the saving of many lives [Gen 50:20] 🤎

This tribe celebrated me so well last weekend. 🥺 

I'm a rich girl.