Missing dear friends!!!

I've been feeling particularly lonely for the dear old friends we've left back in the Silver Valley. I find myself having "blue" days, but when I try to figure out why, all I can come up with is that I'm having a hard time saying good-bye to the Silver Valley and all our friends. (These are my dear Zoe girls).

You may say, "What's the problem? You left Kellogg last May. Why are you just now getting so lonesome for everyone?" I think the reason is this: Up until now it's been go, go, go, with very little opportunity to reflect on my losses. And now that we are turning our attentions to new people, to new avenues of ministry, etc. I think there's a part of me that is resisting change. The other day as we were driving through Kalispell, I felt sad. Part of me didn't want to start all over in a new place. That particular day I had to admit I didn't even want to try to make new friends, or get to know a new geographical region. I just wanted to go home.
(More precious friends from back home)

Thankfully, the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit has come to my rescue. I cried out to the Lord and He heard my prayer. He reminded my of a strategy that would get my eyes off myself. 'Cause that's what it was. I was feeling sorry for myself. I was feeling isolated. I had lost my sense of "belonging," of "being known and valued." The Lord challenged me to reach out to others, even in the midst of feeling like I was invisible to others.

Wow, What a difference it has made! Within a day of submitting to God in this, things started to change. No, I haven't forgotten or abandoned my dear old friends, but God has ignited a desire within my soul to make new friends--to take new people into my heart, to invest in them, to love and accept them.

The two friends you see here, I sorely miss. What a blessing and spiritual boost they were to me. How I miss our times together! But again, I have so much to be thankful for. Lord willing, I will see them both when we visit the Silver Valley this Thursday. Kelly will attempt to "fix" my hair. And, boy, does it need it. And I'll get to spend time with Jamie at the Silver Valley Ministerial Fellowship.

Like I said, within a day, things started to turn around. As I began reaching out to others: sitting by someone who was sitting alone in the cafeteria, inviting a young mother in for a chat, praying with a gal from another culture who is struggling with the way Americans do things, etc. all of a sudden I experienced the blessing of feeling needed, feeling appreciated, and feeling like I belong.

This whole experience reminds me of the song we used to teach in Pioneer Girl's Club: "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the others is gold."