LOVE

Meet my friend, Julie. I met Julie about a year and a half ago in class. We spent every day last semester together and she truly is one of a kind. She is a God fearing woman, fun, silly, gives great advice, and all around a genuine friend. I am thankful for Julie and really enjoy listening to her speak.

Today was our first day back to school. We are in senior seminar until Wednesday, when we start student teaching. Even though the six hours of complete boredom was not fun, it was fun to see all of my friends who I have become so close with and truly enjoy being around. It is fun because we all share the same passion of teaching, yet we are all so different. It is really neat.

Back to the reason for this post: LOVE. This is not my typical blog about love but yet a simple, yet powerful, message that I heard from my friend Julie. We were talking about new years resolutions and Julie told us that hers is to use the word love sparingly. Why, you might ask? Love is a word we, or I guess I should speak for myself, use on a daily, hourly basis. It is thrown around like any word in my vocabulary. I was immediately convicted when she was telling me of her new years resolution. I think about all the things I "love," or that I think I "love." 

*I "love" ice cream.

*I "love" warm weather.

*I "love" this coat.

*I "love" Trish makeup.

*And the list could go on and on and on and on.......

Yes, I like ice cream, I enjoy warm weather, I want that coat, and I like Trish makeup but I don't necessarily LOVE those things. I LOVE my family, Caleb, my friends, and teaching. AND I LOVE Jesus. Can I really put Jesus, my family, Caleb on the same level as ice cream and warm weather. 

Wow, conviction....

I am challenged to really think about what I truly 

LOVE and to use the word LOVE sparingly.

Thank you, sweet Julie, for challenging me and making me look at 2011 differently.