The Road Less Traveled...

I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

     I have lived in the same place for the past 12 years of my life, but that doesn't mean that my life hasn't led me all over. I have been out of the country more times than I can count on both hands, had hardships of the preteen & teenage years (yes I am still in them),  my walk with the Lord has been up, down and in-between and life, just like everyone else's life just happens. I have had the joy of having a few dear friends, that of which I can count on one hand. One of my best friends, whom I have known since I was 6 years old, moved away when we were about 12. Although we use to argue a lot, we had a special connection and were like minded in a lot of ways. We would romp around the country side in our prairie dresses making mud pies and riding stick horses. As we started to grow up we would do more and more things together, I was always asking my mom "Can I go over to Jessi's house?" I can remember, she would always ask me what I was going to eat for dinner that night if I called her house. I of course never knew because dinner was a spontaneous event in our house. It is funny the little things that you remember in life.
     The day Jessica moved away I was heart broken, my dearest friend was going to move 60 miles away! Little did I know that a year later she would move even farther. As the years went by our visits became fewer and longer in between. We grew older and our lives kept on going. Eventually we became accustomed to the fact of only being able to see each-other about once a year and rejoiced over those occasions when we did get together. This month we were coming up on not seeing each-other for almost 12 months and had decided that we needed to get together, because she is about to leave the country on her own adventure. Thankfully we made a day when it worked out and although we only got to spend 7 hours together, we made the most of them.

     Jess is the type of friend where I just pick right back up where I left off. We stay in touch enough by phone and letter so that it isn't awkward when we get back together. When she got here we made coffee, played cribbage and talked, and talked and walked and talked some more. So much had happened in each others lives that I didn't think there would be enough time to cover everything. Do you ever have such a friend? Someone who you just click with, a person who isn't always apart of your life but if you never got to talk with them...you would notice, you would care. Having people in your life who are there through out different stages and changes in your life is, to quote and old saying "the test of a true friend," but it really is  true. Our passions have changed, no longer do we run around in dresses, we both love photography and music now. We have been molded and shaped  in different ways by our creator Jesus Christ, He has made us to have fellowship with one another, bond in each others presences and have healthy communication. I am so thankful for the friend he has given me. It gives me a great illustration or a mirror to see how God's relationship is with me (though no illustration is perfect.) Even though I leave God so many times, neglect His relationship to me, forget to send Him letters, give Him calls, think about Him daily or read His word, we can always pick back up where we left off and continue growing our love for each-other.
     Now, my friend and I have decided on one thing while we were together, we both want to live our lives for Christ. That doesn't look the same for both of us, but it does require dedication, commitment and communication. We are both at a time in our lives where the world is putting pressure on us to "go to college" "get a job" and "be successful" but that is not what the Lord commands of us. He says in Luke 9:23-25 "if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. for whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits his very soul"
       I challenge you, whether you are in school, have a job or are living the dream. Do you deny yourself daily? Do you joyfully pick up the cross, though it is heavy and toilsome, and run after him diligently? You have the choice, and no matter how crafty or smart I am with creating illustrations and word pictures for you. YOU are the one who has to make the life changing choice to not just believe in God, the author and hope of our salvation, but you must pursue Him with all your heart. What does that look like? Well the first thing to do is to make the choice. Two roads diverge in a yellow wood, will you take the one less traveled on?