Making Room!

I sat on the porch of my dear sweet friend, my neighbor, a fellow princess wearing an invisible but still crown glistening for me to see. 

My eyes were wet with my own tears as I shared the weariness of my day with her. I struggled with thoughts of sharing.  You know it is just so much easier to share our UP moments.  God has not called me to be a Debby Downer; but He has also not called me to be a liar or dishonest with my emotions. 

I definitely don’t post many down days on Facebook or Twitter, and not everyone knows my every thought – only God does – but I do have struggles.  In the midst of trials I have been known to still have a smile on my face and it is not that I am ignoring the sadness, I just know that this present issue is not all there is and I always have multiple things to be thankful for.

But how do we walk our days honestly with those we care for and see on a regular basis.  We cannot ignore the issues and concerns of our day that quite frankly bring us down.  Those who know us see that something is not right? 

Like Naomi, there are times where we just feel like God has brought bitterness to our lives… (Ruth 1:20-21)

Who else has been there?

Who else has cried out like Hannah in utter despair to God?  (1 Samuel 1)

How can we help each other through these times?   Not ignore the pain.  Not encourage more unnecessary despair, but allow the despair to be talked about and processed?  How do we lovingly walk and encourage with truth? 

Seeing what was present on my friend’s porch opened my eyes to a lot.  I saw and felt God’s presence on my friend’s porch.

My porch is currently missing chairs, but I am on the hunt now for a pair.  I am making room for some things on my front porch…

*Room for safety (A place where confidences can be kept)

*Room for grace (Realizing neither of us live perfect lives-forgiveness and room for making mistakes)

*Room for wet eyes (Able to let emotions roll)

*Room for ME TOO – (A place where we know we are not alone)

*Room for dry eyes after (Allowing God’s truth to reign and bring hope and reminding us that this present struggle shall too pass)

This morning my heart is full and wanting to grasp more about how to keep walking when it hurts…or how to be vulnerable and share my struggles so others will too feel welcome on these chairs on my front porch.

How do you remind yourself to be brave and take a seat?

Is there room for you on your neighbor’s porch? 

Is there room on your porch?

Let’s make some room!