Do you remember the “Be Like Mike” Gatorade commercial that originally aired in the early 90’s? While I’m not sure drinking Gatorade will win you an NBA championship, there is some truth to it. A writer once said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Growth and change is part of our lives whether we are consciously aware of it or just going with the flow.
If you live in the North-Eastern part of the United States like I do, the emergence of the 17 year cicada left you drowning in “their noise this past spring. It reminded me of how often the loud noise of life drowns out what is most important. I want to slow down and hear my friend’s stories and be changed because of them.
Every Person Has a Story
In pausing to think about the five people I want to be most like, I thought about the five traits I most desire in my life. I am blessed beyond blessed to have friends who fit into each of these categories. I’m not going to call them out by name, but if you are that friend, I love you deeply and am eternally grateful for the influence you have in my life.
1. Humble
I admire my friend who always seems to know just what a person needs before know it themselves. Her cheerful spirit is always looking for ways to spread Jesus’ love to everything she touches. She always has time for you and I always come away challenged to love those around me well.
2. Wise
My friend always does the hard thing – even when she don’t have to. She does it just because she wants to prove to herself she can. She stretches her limits. She wants to be the best she can be. I like hanging around her because I think a little bit of that rubs off on me. Which is good, because I tend to want to do what makes me comfortable.
3. Courageous
As someone who spent most of her life afraid of her own shadow, I admire fearlessness. I have a friend who doesn’t let fear stop her. She has taught me how to show up in the uncomfortable and love well.
4. Prayer
It’s a privilege to walk in the footsteps of two Godly women. I have reaped the fruits of many faithful years of prayer by both my mom and mother-in-law. I have seen God move mountains. As a stubborn teen and young adult, they didn’t lecture me. Instead the took their concerns to the cross, where God in His tender mercies heard their prayers and weaved his light through my life. When I’m scared, or worried I now know I can leave it at the cross. God never changes, he was faithful then and he is faithful now.
5. Surrendered
Watching my friend’s life turn upside down and seeing her lift her hands and say, “God is good. I trust Him.” To know- that you know- that you know- to the depth of the core of who you are- that God is good, how awesome is that? I pray, I too would let the things of this world to grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.
So good to see a post from you! I was missing your voice. 🙂 What a great idea to consider what we get from the ones we love… I’ll have to think about that one. It would be tough to settle on one attribute for you, my friend! 🙂
Thanks. I’m working on posting on a schedule… I was thinking about next month being the three year anniversary my first blog post. So thankful for you encouraging me to do the uncomfortable. I often think about when you told me you do the hard thing right away so you don’t have time to be afraid. Thinking and planning what the next three years will bring – watch for new changes coming soon! BTW – what was your word count total for last month?
Wow 3 months! Awesome, friend. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got up that sleeve of yours!