Yesterday, I was in planting my fall mums when my cell phone rang and with one syllable I felt transported from my backyard, to my house in Westmont, the house of my youth.

“Lisa.”

“Well hello Amy. How is my girlfriend today?”

Within moments, it was as if no time had passed; as if we were sharing stories, freshman year in the cafeteria line or on the bleachers of a Hornet football game.

“Who did you go to prom with?”

“Who was your big crush?”

“Do you remember that toga party at Knez’s?”

It was like I was fourteen years old again and could still feel my braces getting caught on my gums as I giggled.

We shared memories from our youth but also some of the lows of today; aging parents, work, jobs, life, etc.

I hung up the phone, looked over at my mums and instead of resuming planting, I put down my shovel and went inside.

I thought more about Amy. That girl always could make me laugh.

I dug through my old photo album and found a picture of us. I can still hear “Surprise!!!” echoing the hallway of my childhood home.

I thumbed through the photo album labeled SWEET SIXTEEN PARTY and saw friends of my youth.

As I recalled names of the faces who gathered in my streamer-filled basement, a quiet smile covered my face as I remember how happy I was that night but then another thought entered my mind.

Wait! That was also the same day of my high school conference gymnastics meet.

That meet still ranks as my most embarrassing moment EVER! Let’s just say, “my monthly friend” decided to pay me a visit in the middle of my floor routine. SURPRISE! And this SURPRISE visit was not something that was easily disguised. I remember Amy sitting outside the shower as I cried with utter distress.

I thumbed through some more pictures and thought how could I be SO FREAKED OUT and SO HAPPY all in the same day. And then I heard the whisper, ” With me anything is possible.”

So you may ask, why do I share such raw and personal stories? For likes? For Comments? Self-promotion?

No. None of above.

The reason is simple; to show that no matter what you are going through, or how your day, your week, your month, or yes- even your painstaking year is going- that we have a real and personal Jesus who sees us, loves us, and listens to us.

He wants to help us, if only we will ask.

So if you are stuck in a season of slow bleeding… ( Sorry, I am giggling! God wrote that! I didn’t.)

Don’t be stuck! You have a friend who wants to be with you; whether you are crying in the shower or celebrating a birthday. God is good and will meet you right where you are!

“Many are asking,’ Who can show us any good? Lift up the light of your face upon us Lord.” Psalm 4:6