Yesterday, she brought me flowers.
Last year was especially difficult for everyone at my school. We were hit hard from so many directions. There was a pandemic. There was a new Literacy Act. But it was so much more. It was illness and hospital stays. Sick family and friends. It was a breast cancer diagnosis. It was a stroke. It was being found just in time after a blood sugar spike. It was a returning cancer that quickly took a well-loved co-worker and friend. The type of friend that you could tell anything, and you knew that it would never be shared. I lost count of the number of teachers who lost parents. Then, there was the sudden, unexpected death of a spouse.
This week we returned to start a new school year. We start with various uncertainties, but also with renewed hope.
A dear friend that was out for most of last year returned this week. I sent her verses throughout her cancer diagnosis and treatments. She wrote beautiful prayers for me and my family that still make me cry every time I read them. I bought her a plaque to remind her to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9). She called on my birthday, less than a month after Criss passed, and we were both in tears as she sang “Happy Birthday” to me over the phone.
This week, we were reunited in person for the first time in many months. She brought me flowers to thank me for the phone full of Bible verses I texted to her. We shared updates about our lives. I told her about new undertakings and plans for the future. She said I encouraged her with my words, both this week and at Criss' funeral. Today, I left school with a lightness in my spirit after a long talk filled with Scripture and truth.
Earlier this week, I was reading Romans 1. Paul wrote, “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you - that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine” (v. 11-12).
Between the two of us, we have been through a great deal over the years. I am thankful for friends like this, with whom I can come together and be mutually encouraged, infusing each other with faith. We need to keep people like this in our lives – and we need to be this kind of person to others.
Who are you mutually encouraging by your faith today?
Janel
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.” Revelation 12:11
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
