We will remember Febrary 2021 as the snowy month. Unlike last year when we only had a few flakes, we've enjoyed week after week of a white landscape. The first two Sundays of the month, our church services were canceled. But both times we were able to meet with friends in homes which made a special Sunday anyway. (And I know, some of you are still under Covid restrictions and meeting at home is no longer fun. I'm sorry.)
After the first week or two, the children wearied of playing in the snow, but the remenant of their huge snowballs still survive.
Trapping season ended for my boys. They had put a lot of effort into it this year without too much to show for it. Maybe next year...
Last week we left snowy Pennsylvania for soggy North Carolina. We joined Christian Disaster Services who are still helping families get back in their homes after Hurrican Florence in 2018.
Maybe the best part of the week was learning to know people from other parts of the US. We met Sunday as strangers and left Saturday as friends.
A week like this reminded me of the blessing of Christian fellowship. The past year has showed me how much I need others and yet how easily I can build walls. Connection takes effort and sometimes it feels too hard to give the time, energy, and humility needed for honest friendships.
I'm grateful for conversations with friends this past month on topics such as hospitality, identity, and expectations. Growth happens when we learn from each other, when we prod each other to be more like Jesus. Growth happens when we are honest with each other, when we aren't afraid to share what is really bothering us.
I have a lot of growing to do.
Your service projects looks like a wonderful time of work, fellowship and growth too. I miss those things and hope life will soon return to normal.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
What a blessing to be able to help others and fellowship with new friends. You are so right about connection taking effort. Sometimes it is so much easier to hide away in ourselves because it seems to be the easiest thing to do. But the rewards of faith, fellowship and friendship make it a little easier. Thank you for sharing and have a blessed week!
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear from you again. I heard that PA had lots of snow!!! So glad to see our family doing "a service project"
ReplyDeleteWe thought Spring had arrived here in AL but we have the heater going this morning.... the Robins have arrived so therefore Spring will be here soon.:)
These words really spoke to my heart today…. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWe can build walls. Give up trying. It does take effort…
…” blessing of Christian fellowship. The past year has showed me how much I need others and yet how easily I can build walls. Connection takes effort and sometimes it feels too hard to give the time, energy, and humility needed for honest friendships.”