Growing Up

There is a point when you look around you and realize that your friends grew up when you weren’t looking.When you look at someone you’ve known for almost 15 years and realize this isn’t the goofy teenager you’ve always known, but a wise, faith-filled woman of God. Not to say that there aren’t remnants of that friend still (because you know she can still be goofy), but you hear your friend talking about hard things in life with an incredible amount of grace and trust in God and you're blown away.Or you see a friend who got a little lost along the way reconnect with who she really is. She rediscovers who she is in the eyes of her Creator and Savior and begins to live a life that fully reflects that. It’s amazing to see how much stronger she is when her life is rooted in truth and hope.Or you spend time with a friend you haven’t seen in a while and realize that the caring friend you had when you were young has turned into a fantastic mother of two. The person who showed you kindness when you needed it most is now teaching her little ones to do the same.Or you see the crazy, outgoing friend who was always willing to push the boundaries and bend (sometimes break) the rules become someone who is aiming that crazy passion into following Jesus wherever He leads. The same fearlessness you saw in her as kids is now focused on sharing the love of Christ with people around the world.The more I think about it, the more I realize I have been truly blessed with some amazing friends over the years, and I couldn’t be more proud of the people they are now.My prayer today is that they continue to chase after Jesus and lead lives that bring him glory. I pray that in 15 years, I’ll look back on who they are now and once again be amazed at how much they’ve grown.More than anything though, I pray they’re still a part of my life in another 15 years because these friends inspire me. They encourage me. They show me what faith in the midst of darkness looks like. They show me that fighting for truth even when you don’t want to is always going to be worth it. They show me that compassion for others is what life is about. They show me that no matter what happens, Jesus is my hope. I don’t ever want to forget that.