I thought about titling this post “people”, originally, but after viewing the definition, I switched to relationships. The definition of people can be summed up as “human beings”. Whereas the definition of relationship is; a connection, association, or an emotional or other connection between people. It is very interesting that to just have people in your life and to have relationships in your life are entirely different. There are 7 billion human beings on this planet so we all have people in our life. Its easy to recgonize that people are around you, but its another thing to recgonize relationships and invest into those. Even while I’ve been living here in Hamilton, I’ve seen how the lady at Hamilton flowers is not simply a person. Her name is Darcy and we have a relationship. My cashier at Walmart isn’t just another human being for me to overlook. His name is Billy.He is genuine and great at his job. My heart aches as I write this because of my deep love for people yet our human nature to neglect relationships. Truly, I think I’m crazy sometimes because my heart is SO full of love and belief in people I see. This causes me to love and pursue them and they become relationships. I’m convinced if I could have a super power it would be to know and love on everyone! I just believe in them and want them to feel like they belong. Because the truth is, we all do. Father God has always sought after a family. He gave His most treasured relationship, His only son, so that He could win us back into His family.

Tying that into my small town life, it has been challenging to not be interacting with lots of people living here. Today has ended with my heart being FULL and feeling a relational release I’ve needed since I moved here. I got to have some incredible conversations and time with relationships I cherish! It made me so happy! I had lunch with my best friend and a “little brother” of ours who is a food snob like me, but we splurged a little. I’m proud of him and he has huge things in store. I got to write back and forth with a close friend who is also blogging. Funny note – she says “people” and “peep hole” the same way. This causes endless laughter for many. Then tonight I attended a service with many wonderful and dear friends. There’s the other little brother who has a great nickname that everyone calls him by. He’s about six years younger than me, but has encouraged me in the things of God in profound ways without knowing it. Then there is the relationship of a sweet friend who called me a couple of months ago just to say that I was welcome to live with her if I moved here. It was at the end of that call that I had total peace about moving here. There is another relationship with a girl who made me spaghetti one time I was in town just because she wanted to serve me. There is my sweet friend who has such a passion for the nations that it is making me cry as I type this. She is radiant and I know we’ll minister together someday probably holding orphans in our arms in East Africa or Cambodia. There is a friend here who I laugh and think of every time I see or think of packing peanuts. Bizarre right? Yes, but behind that is a story told in the glorious presence of God. That brother is an excellent servant if I’ve ever seen one and faithful faithful faithful. Then there is someone I have watched at a distance be transformed by a little book I gave them last year, Nazirite DNA by Lou Engle. I even have a sweet mama friend who is likely reading this who looked so radiant in her springtime outfit. She invited me to a footed pajama movie party last week with her kiddos. Don’t worry you didn’t miss the details.!I was unable to go unable to go unfortunately, but was blessed by the invitation. Each face I saw today weren’t just faces of people, but faces with names, stories, dreams, and a destiny. Just knowing them blesses my life. I know that if you have taken the time to read this much and follow my crazy journey thus far that you too are one that makes my heart do somersaults! Tonight my heart is full of love for you. I think of one of my best friends who just had the sweetest baby and I miss them. Or of my friends who’ve adopted two GORGEOUS children from Ethiopia. Or of my dear friends that are new youth and worship pastors in Chicago. Or a friend from Colorado who literally encourages me nearly daily on Facebook. Then my family is out of the world incredible!! I am blessed with relationships and there are thousands of stories like these I’d miss out on if I only saw people.

I’ve been learning more and more everyday that life is about relationships. It is about our relationship personally with God, Jesus,& Holy Spirit, and then relationships with other. No matter where I am in the world, I am surrounded by not just people but by relationships. As I’m concluding this post one of absolute favorite songs just came on my iTunes on shuffle. Its called “Emma (Not Alone)” by Jason Upton. It has helped me in tough times lean on God and know I’m not alone. For those of you feeling alone, seek comfort in the One who loves you more than a human being ever could. Then seek relationships with others. See past just seeing them and seek to know them. You aren’t alone. You were created for relationship.

I didn’t mean to go into all of that, but I love sharing my heart on this.