Unexpected Guests

One bitterly cold Friday night, I reached my limit. It was an especially busy week, my husband worked 70+ hours, and I just witnessed a car accident. Dramatically slinking my way onto the couch, I took a deep breath and thought, I am so glad the only plan for tonight is to snuggle on the couch with my hubby. And then the phone rang.

In a panic, my seven-months-pregnant sister exclaimed, “Min! Our landlord painted our apartment early without telling us and the paint fumes are unbearable! There is no way I can stay here . . . Can we come stay with you?”

I love my sister dearly, and we have a wonderful relationship. I lived with her before I got married and her now-husband lived with us before they got married. I knew it wouldn’t be a problem, but in that weary moment, all I could think was, Really, Lord? The house was a mess, we had nothing to offer for dinner, I was exhausted, and I didn’t want company.

The thing about hospitality is that it doesn’t always come in the form of a pre-planned party. In fact, a lot of times it looks like unexpected guests. Maybe it’s in the form of a friend who’s struggling over a recent loss and is desperate for a pick-me-up right when you’re heading to the gym. Or maybe it’s a coffee date you allotted an hour for but is pushing three because your friend hasn’t been out of the house in months. Or maybe it’s quite literally like us — with a sister and brother-in-law knocking on the door asking to stay for an undefined amount of time.

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The Friend Who Exceeds Expectations

Last summer I was a sad song stuck on repeat. Wrought with loneliness, over and over again I cried out to God asking, “Where are my deep friendships?”

In a perfect world, my idea of a deep friendship is composed of two people who love each other so deeply that it’s a bit overwhelming. If you’re discouraged, your friend is there to listen and encourage you. If you’re excited, she’s the one popping the champagne bottle. If you’re frustrated, she’s the one pulling you out of it and helping you change your attitude to joy. She asks all the right questions at all the right times and is 100% invested in the story God is writing through your life.

Basically, this perfect friend is birthed straight out of 1 Peter 4:8 which says,

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Absorbed by my longing for perfect depth, discontent descended like a fog over my relationships. Instead of focusing on what they offered, I could only see what they lacked.

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This is the beginning of my guest post over on (in)courage; a community whose goal is to encourage the hearts of women and point to Jesus.  I am so honored to be a guest contributor today and would love if you'd head over to (in)courage to check it out.  Click here to read the entire article.

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Bringing Light into Darkness

Shoving my carry-on in the overhead compartment, I slide in and take the window seat. I slip my tote bag underneath the seat in front of me, click my seatbelt into place and gaze out into the thick, grey sky. The sun is nowhere to be seen and the mood is overtly depressive. Pushing away from the jet bridge, we make our way to the runway and the bus on wings lifts off the ground.

Halfway through our climb, a ball of red light on the horizon catches my eye. Lost in a stare as I question where it’s coming from, we break through the clouds and my eyelids slam shut. Through squinted eyes, I discover its source — the sun. An intense, fiery orange-red sun kisses the top of the clouds with a soft red glow.  Despite its brightness, I can’t stop myself from looking because the sight is brilliant.

Amazed, I’m struck by the fact that the city beneath me is blanketed with gloom, yet here, I’m blinded by the sun. And then it hits me. How often do I feel overcome by darkness, forgetting the truth that the sun is just above the clouds? No matter how dark the skies are, or how heavy the storm is, the sun never leaves. We might not see it, but that doesn’t mean it took the day off allowing darkness to overcome it.

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This is the beginning of my guest post over on (in)courage; 
an amazing community whose goal is to encourage the hearts of women.  
Click here to read the entire article.

Want to learn more about (in)courage, their hearts for Christ and find out how you can sign up to receive daily encouragement right in your inbox? click here.