How are you?

One of the first greetings we often give one another is "how are you?"

Most of my life I've responded with words similar to

"pretty good"

"great"

"I'm good.  How are you?"

But, what if we really took that question to mean that someone was genuinely wanting to know how we are doing.  What if we opened up and allowed others into our world and shared from our hearts.

That is when I believe relationships are deepened.  That's when we strip ourselves of pretenses and share the real things going on in our lives.  That's when we open up about our joys, sorrows, struggles, praises, challenges, etc.

Since I was diagnosed with epilepsy a few months ago I've had so many friends checking in on me to see how I'm doing.  Some days I've responded with my "pretty good" answer, and for that moment that may have been how I felt, but I've also decided to take this time to try and be more open and real.

Last night I had a friend text me to check in and I got real.  She's a friend who I know I can trust with my heart and who genuinely wants to know how I'm doing.

The last few weeks has been a bit of a struggle.  The house is overwhelming me, I'm having a harder time not being able to drive, I'm struggling to find the inner joy and peace that God blesses us with.

So I shared some things with her and it felt good to be open.  It felt good to be real.

I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but I do want to be myself.

Often times I see snip-its of peoples' lives and I don't see the struggles or the hardships they face.  But, Monday I began a new Bible Study and it was just what I needed.  Just in the introductions alone, the women were real, and tears were shed.  No one was trying to impress the person next to them.  These sisters in Christ were just opening up about their lives and by the end of that morning the conversations were easily flowing with one another.

I desire to have deep and intimate relationships.  I want to have friends that I can share with when I'm struggling and I know they will pray.  I want to hear from my friends when they are rejoicing so that I can rejoice with them!

So, next time I ask you "how are you?" please share with me and I will do the same with you. :)

As I opened the computer to find some praise music to listen to last night, this sermon by Chuck Smith popped up and it is titled "When Life is Overwhelming".  Andy was putting the kids to bed so I had some time to myself and I was able to listen.  If you have 30 minutes and you are struggling with being overwhelmed, I encourage you to do the same.  One principle he shared that I am clinging to is that if our vertical relationship with Christ is not in order, then our horizontal relationships with others will be out of whack.  It was a word I needed and I'm so grateful that I chose to listen to Pastor Chuck instead of grabbing the laundry to fold and watching a show, which was my plan.  And, can I just tell you that I really struggled with that decision.  I wanted to relax with a favorite show, in the quiet, but I kept telling myself "this is better" and it surely was.

May you be blessed today!