Sometimes You Gotta Take a Step Back

I got sick last week. Wednesday night to be exact. I went to bed feeling queasy and woke up a number of times throughout the evening. I made it to work on Thursday morning, but I was very weak, and I went home right after lunch. I stayed home on Friday, dragged myself to Plano on Saturday, let my mama and daddy take care of me all weekend, and didn't really feel completely well until this morning. In that time, I received a number of phone calls, text messages, and emails that were not urgent and did not demand a response. Normally, I would have answered/responded anyway, just because that's who I am and how I do things. But, there was just no excess energy to do more than was absolutely necessary. Because of that, it was almost as though I got to enjoy my friendships from a distance. Instead of worrying about coming up with quick and witty responses, I got to just grin and appreciate the comedy of those who love me. Instead of casting about for something to offer people, I was able to just be -- and to realize that sometimes, that's enough. Instead of being so close, so right in the middle of my friends and the happenings of their daily lives, I got to take a step back. And, you know what I realized? I am absolutely crazy about them! I mean, 100% certifiably nuts about the zany, ecclectic group of people God lets me do life with. In fact, I was so captivated by this thought that I went back through my old emails and found one Ginger wrote nearly a year ago outlining her love for a number of her dear friends and was seriously tempted to try my own hand at such a list. However, I just don't know where to start or how to stop once I get going, so I will refrain for now. Today, it will simply have to be enough for me to tell you how blessed I feel, how my heart and mind overflow with thanksgiving for God's creativity. He knew I needed you, knows I need you, and sometimes, it's good to take a step back in order to see His wisdom in that more plainly.