HAVE YOU MET....?

"I love your hair!" is how it started.

I often wondered since then, did He plan that statement to be our first introduction? I think more likely, since I know her so well now, it was a case of free will instead because those words are sooooo her.

People, circumstances, places...they are all ways in which He chooses to reach us.

For some it could be on the summit of a mountain. For others it could be while whitewater rafting or gazing at a sunset. Still others find Him during an event in their life. It could be a tragic one or at the opposite end of the spectrum and entering the realms of blessed splendor.

I have absolutely no doubt He tried to reach me in all these ways. But since I require being hit over the head with a hammer, He finally decided I wasn't going to get the subtleties and jumped in my direct path.

So for me, it took a person.

A petite young woman whom I'd never met before, but approached me at a Bunko party and told me she liked my hair. I took her to my 'stylist' at the time (Larry...what a great hair dresser and sweet, sweet man!!) and that was all it took. We bonded. That was about ... what? ... 14 years ago? She'd remember better than I, because as I like to tell her...she has a ridiculous memory and a lot of wasted space for most of it. I'm sorry...but to prove my point, I'll offer this fact: She remembers my doctor's appointments better than I do and she doesn't write them down. Has even been known to go to more than one with me. Just sayin'... .

Anyway, I know God brought Angela in my life to remind me I should be walking more closely with His Son. She wasn't brought in my life to take the place of anyone, though we refer to each other as "Chosen" (sisters), but rather to enhance my life.

I once wrote her a letter letting her know she reintroduced me to Christ. It was important to me she know this.

I lost my mom at 15 years of age and had a distorted view of life, trust and love. Many things actually. While I went to church, believed in God, prayed...I wasn't living my life with Him being in control. She reminded me to do just that. He's at the beginning, end and center of it all.
And while we have had ups and downs, as any very close friends do, the bond is unbreakable due to what she did for me.

I've got peace in my heart and in my life because of her. Yes...I have various forms of turmoil surrounding me daily, like a lot of people do. But, I've finally learned what it means to turn it over to God. It took me a long time to learn how to do this, and I'm still not perfect at it, but I know without a doubt He is in control and never leaves me.

I can't change circumstances. I can't change people. But I can change me and what I choose to see. Who I choose to listen to. How I chose to live my life. And I've learned, especially lately, the grace of not judging others.

My decisions have been questioned (to which I ask...is there any such thing as 'boundaries' anymore?!) due to recent circumstances and I'm finally coming to terms with just letting go and letting Him take over. I can't control what others think or what they *think* they would do in my shoes...they don't know all my circumstances. HE does and HE is who I go to for advice.

I've had the opportunity to pass that on to others and it makes me realize you never know who you are going to impact, given the opportunity. And every single one of us has the opportunity, every day.

Angela may just think she impacted me, but it's carried on further than that. It's a chain of events and people that started with our meeting. Ben would say it's a lot like Legos. Alone, one may not seem so impressive. But start putting them together, then stand back and take a look and you'll be surprised at the creation.

I now have even more people in my life who don't mind talking about Christ and what He has done in their lives. They believe He is in control and remind me where to turn when I start to get off-course, as well all tend to do. One such friend often tells me, "Get outta the driver's seat...you aren't supposed to be the one steering!". I love that visual.

So while she is saying, "I'm not perfect! Don't make me sound perfect!"...she isn't and I'm not implying that. None of us are. I do believe in giving credit where it's due though, especially when I have so many people talking to me right now about my faith and how I seem to see things so clearly and peacefully when things 'go wrong'. It didn't happen overnight. But it DID happen because of someone in my life who didn't mind sharing something meaningful with me. Letting go of negative things around you is a choice. Sometimes it's a decision I have to make every five minutes, but it's still a choice! A very active decision.

Thank you, Ang. I'm so glad we ran into each other that night so many years ago and I'm forever grateful Who you made me run into once again. He knew I was going to need Him more than anyone at this point in my life and only He is equipped to give me the support I need. If it weren't for you, I could very well be angry, bitter and extremely unhappy.

It's because of our meeting I'm happy today, I'm able to forgive, call on grace rather than anger, try and raise my kids in the best way I can, and most importantly...turn over all those things I have absolutely no control over to Him.

Always remember and never forget: God determines who walks into your life....it's up to you to decide who walks away, who you let stay and who you refuse to let go.