And I know you won’t.
You will cringe when you see this post.
But we’re celebrating your birthday this week and it’s more about Him than it is about you.
It’s about Him in You.
Because you are Matthew 5:16 to me.
You shine your light and it brings glory to Him.
And you do it for that reason…
So this is not to steal your treasure in Heaven (because I know you have a pile).
But because I want others to know what it looks like to pour out your life for the sake of Christ.
It is being you, the greeter, the first “hello” that every person reaches when they walk through those doors at church.
It is the jello dropped off when you know kids are sick and this mama is in much-need-of-help.
It is your request for help, when you know the real need is me learning to serve.
It is the fact that you worry and pray and heartache over that woman in study who is struggling.
It is that text that asks me where I was and lets me know I was missed when I didn’t show up.
It is the times I see you, elderly friend on arm, as the to-dentist-appointment-driver.
It is meeting after meeting after meeting over God’s Word, that almost no one knows about… where you invest in lives.
It is the pink balloons at Selah’s memorial because we wanted to celebrate life over death.
It is all the walks and talks you made time for when my heart was heavy with grief.
It is the way our kids call you “Aunt Nally” when our family lives away and you can be family here.
It is your gentle nudge that calls my attitude into check.
It is the moments when you are real about your mama-fears and marriage-struggles and how you still have hope.
It is your love for our children in all their real realities.
It is the call that says we haven’t connected…and you ask me to pray for–
It is your honest failures and open door and open heart and open-ness to correction and redirection.
It is the times you offer to watch our kiddos so we can have some marriage moments.
It is why I don’t have photos of you…always behind the scenes.
It is the way my doorbell rings and you are here and it’s better you didn’t call ahead.
It is how I turn right or left and hear of how in someway you are reaching out, pulling in, calling to, always weaving our church family tighter and closer to Him.
This is relationship.
This is mentorship.
This is–
Friendship.
You’re not perfect…but you are the perfect (in Him) Titus 2 for me.
And I love you and thank God for you…
Happy Birthday Sarita.
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