Combat Zone

Hey fam!

 The truth is that all of us are fighting our own war. We all have lost some battles, we all have had some victories. All of us have different combat zones. All of us have battle scars. Some of us are wounded. 

 A scar is a wound that has been healed. It's still there, but it's not bleeding or as painful to touch. On the other hand, a wound is open, risking the chance of bleeding and even infection.  

 

 Think about what happens when we see someone skin their knee or get a bad cut. Usually, we would run over in an effort to help and comfort. The problem is that most of our scars and wounds are internal. 99% of the time we cannot see abuse, addiction, depression, loneliness, etc. by looking at someone.

 Still, there is no excuse for us not to provide First Aid,  to be the hands and feet of Jesus. The process looks different for each of us. For me, it starts with seeing people as wounded and with scars, just like me. It's realizing that what hurts me might not hurt them, but that we all know hurt in some form. It's allowing God to show me the people He would have walk with me. It's being willing to let these people help bandage my wounds.

 It's time for us to bandage each others wounds instead of turning away or leaving one another bleeding. It's time that we learn to pray for each other, really pray for each other. It's time that we dig deeper in our relationships and friendships. We have to love past the scars and the wounds. After all, who are we to give up on someone?

Ultimately, Jesus does the healing. We are just the nurses(medics) who have the privilege of working for the doctor who has never lost a patient. 

Peace & Love,

Brittany 

911: Broken Friendships and Relationships

Hey fam!

It's been a minute since I posted and I pray that post finds you doing well. Recently, I have been dealing with the shattered pieces of broken relationships and friendships. Some because of transition, some because of lack of communication, some because of grudges. However, I have concluded that God is not pleased with broken relationships, regardless of the reason. 

Yes, there are times where it is best for both parties to go their separate ways and not look back. These times a rare, very rare. In fact, this is the worst case scenario for any of our relationships and friendships.

At the end of the day, our broken relationships and friendships are not a communication issue, a result of transition, or anything else. Broken relationships and friendships are a direct result of a lack of intimacy with Christ. Now, I am not suggesting that you don't pray enough or read your Bible enough. I am suggesting that friendships and relationships are one of the hardest areas to completely surrender to Christ.

Over the past few days and weeks, I let pain blind me. I let it drive me into saying harsh words to dear friends. I let it convince me that all of the brokenness within relationships is just a part of life.

Still, there is grace even in this. There is grace for the harsh parting words of a broken friendship. There is grace for the tear-stained eyes of heartbreak. There is grace for you and the family member that you have not spoken to in months or years. There is grace even in this, even in this.

Grace is my friend Jesus. My friend who met me in the midst of the hurt and harsh words. My friend who reminded me that sometimes my expectations are too high because no one can love me like He can. The same friend that held my hand though the tears and doubt. Yet, loved me enough  to not let me linger or settle for the brokenness in my relationships or friendships. The friend who offered to go with me on this journey of restoration and healing. 

I am so very thankful for my friend. He is walking with me as I sort through multiple friendships and relationships. I must admit it would be much easier to leave things broken, to run, duck, and hide. It is so much more rewarding to get your friends and family members back, to have a long hug after months, to let Jesus show you how to be a friend because He is the friend. He is our friend. 

Peace & Love,

Brittany