What a Friend

I have this friend who is unlike any other. She has a birthday tomorrow and yesterday I considered writing a post all about her.

This friend has been such a blessing in my life I felt that you all needed at least a piece of her. The problem I encountered however, was my lack of ability to truly represent her before you. There is so much to be said about my friend, and I knew I could never share her with you in words alone. So I scratched the idea and decided to just enjoy her myself this weekend surrounded by thousands of women being washed in the Word together.

And then I stopped by Lisa-Jo's Five Minute Friday. And what do ya know… today's word- FRIEND. I'm working on hearing God's voice and knowing when He prompts. I think this was a prompting. Several promptings actually.

So, Five minutes writing all about my friend, Tresta- here goes-

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It all started when I was nineteen, newly married, and a confused, lost, lonely new mommy. By miraculous happenings, I went to church. It was a teeny tiny little body but the people who filled it had large hearts with wide open doors. And she was one of those people. I knew she had something I didn't. Something I needed.

Flash forward to months in Mexico and returning home with nowhere to live. We were 'missionaries' and God was calling us back. There she was again- welcoming us in like we were a part of her family. She never wavered in opening her heart and her home.

When I struggled to homeschool and knew I was incapable, she reeled me in, ministered to me and helped me minister to my children. She taught me to teach and she listened to my fears and doubts. She cried with me and prayed with me. She was a light that lit the way to the One who could really strengthen and guide me.

Today she is a mom, wife, friend, and disciple I look up to and praise God for. She's the kind of woman that you get to know intimately- to know the real behind the outside shell- and come to love more and more.

I don't get to see her enough, but I follow her written thoughts regularly and never cease to be blessed, encouraged, and challenged by her thoughts and convictions.

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That was five minutes, and I was right- I cannot do this friend justice with keyboard and simple words. I think she'd be okay with that though, because she's a simple girl herself and wouldn't want me to spend more than five minutes shining the spotlight on her. Please visit her at SharpPaynes.com and be filled!  

Lisa-Jo offers the challenge week after week: take a measly five minutes and write. No over thinking, no backtracking, no ‘wait, that’s not spiritual enough, and I can’t share that in cyber city’ mentality. Only writing. Writing for five minutes and risking the outcome. {and don’t forget to spend some time commenting on the post of the person who linked up just before you.}

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