Occasionally 'With'

I have this friend.

Okay, I have many friends.

Many GREAT friends.

All whom I adore with every part of me.

But Erinn, has saved me this year.

Last night, we told each other,

"Thank you for being my friend," what seemed like, a million times over.

I mean I am genuinely grateful for all my friends this amount.

But with her and all my girl friends who seem to have made their way's into my heart, I seriously can not stop saying "Thank you."

Erinn has spent the year, being "with" me.

With me, into the long hours of the night when I needed prayer.

With me, loving people that so desperately needed love.

She points me to Jesus in every sense of the phrase.

I don't know if anyone is aware of this fact or not, but school is hard.

So hard.

You're up all hours of the night studying for exams and completing homework assignments that make you question the validity of schooling, not to mention your life existence.

People tend to be rude.

Teachers tend to be tough on you.

And the desire to drown your sorrows in tequila heightens on a daily basis.

But, when you are "with" someone.

Those doubts, lies, and that spirit of defeat seem to wisp away.

It's as if you're not fighting to stay alive by yourself.

It's as if the burdens of this world are shared.

It's as if this is how it's supposed to be!!

There were 10 people in our tiny little dorm room last night.

We were sharing silly stories.

Laughing way too loud.

And my insides got warm.

All these people in my room.

I only knew 7 of them.

But life is about connections right?

It's about the people you meet.

The people who stand with you.

Sometimes life is about the people who stand against you.

But then the people who stand with you remind you who you are.

They remind you of your purpose.

Often times when we feel that no one is with us, it's because we have let the lies of this earth creep in and blur our vision of truth.

The truth is,

I have incredible friends.

I just finished my 1st year of college. With nothing lower than a 'B' I might add.

The truth is,

I have grown this year, in ways I can't even imagine.

My voice has improved. I can literally feel it in my throat.

My acting has improved.

My communication skills have improved.

I kick ass at Math. (I have no idea where that came from)

I looked into the face of the old me who would have given up by now and said "Not today." (On several occasions, okay it might have been a daily occurrence)

And all because Jesus gave me people who are with me.

'Cause that's how it's supposed to be.