I was able to take an impromptu trip to Alabama this weekend to visit with some of my extended family. It’s always nice to be surrounded by familiar faces, and people that love you regardless of how many times you have fallen face first. It’s nice to have the sweet reminder that we weren’t created to be islands, and that we are so genuinely loved.

My precious “Nannie” is identical to yours. She loves me relentlessly, she always believes in the good within me, and refuses to see my past. She softly whispers words of encouragement and nudges me to continue chasing Jesus. My nannie utters words of praise and empathizes with the struggles of this world. She will be 79 soon…. And she can definitely attest to struggle. She has known the ache of losing a sibling just as I have, and she has known the difficulties within relationships and lived through it all. She can ALWAYS find the joy and a comforting word within all circumstance. I believe this comes from a lot of living-A lot of sacrificing- and a lot of Jesus.

Being with her this weekend was a wonderful reminder that Jesus loves me EVEN more than she does. He is constantly whispering words of encouragement and nudging me to follow His will. My failures and shortcomings are as far as the east is from the west. From one scarred hand to the other. He, more than anyone, empathizes with me and knows better than all, the struggles and heartaches within this broken world. He longs to hold me and guide me. He wants to be the constant reminder in my life, that I am not alone. It’s so hard sometimes; when we grow weary, to remember we aren’t in this by ourselves. He is a breath away. I’m thankful today for my nannie, and for her unconditional love. I’m thankful for the picture of serving, commitment, and selflessness she has always demonstrated. I’m thankful this morning for a God who so lovingly knew what my heart needed, and sent me on a random trip to Alabama searching for Him. I’m grateful He used my nannie as His instrument of love.

I’m thankful that while the path is narrow, and sometimes it seems lonely, God is every day breathing new life into me. He is continually opening my eyes to His grace, and calling me further into a relationship with Him. As pieces of my life are continually changing, I believe with all of me, He is opening new beginnings. And I am chasing Him with reckless abandon.