The Beauty Within Someone Else

Think

 "In friendship...we think we have chosen our peers. In reality a few years' difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another...the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting--any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends, "Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another." The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others." --C. S. Lewis 

A secret Master of Ceremonies? Wow. Do you look at your friends differently when you consider that God has chosen them for you? How amazing to consider that friendship is all about the God revealing to us the beauty within someone else. Are we receptive? Do we see?

 Pray 

God, show me the beauty in the people with whom you have surrounded me. I want to see them as you do, as you created them to be. And God, I want to be an instrument for good in their lives.

ACT

Lattes are a love language. I have a local friend who is really, really good at reading my needs. She can take two hurried text messages and know that things are heading in a bad direction. But what comes next is even more extraordinary. She shows up. One her way to run errands or even out-of-her-way, she appears on my porch with a latte. And a bouquet of flowers. She turns the whole day around. And here's the thing: I had no idea that lattes and daisies are my love language. But apparently, they are. I feel loved every single time. 

Speak another woman's love language today.

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Motherhood can feel like the loneliest vocation in the world. Surrounded by children, who frequently bring us to our knees, both literally and figuratively, we can be overwhelmed by isolation. Mothers need community. We can be community for one another. We can encourage on another and hold each other accountable. If you like these short devotions, please share the image and send another woman here. And when you're here, please take a moment to pray with another mother who is visiting. Leave a comment and when you do, pray for the woman whose comment is just above yours. Just a moment--blessed--will begin to build community.

I like to pray when I run in the morning. Often, I listen to Divine Office and pray Morning Prayer or the Office of Readings. Then, I just take up a conversation with God. I'd love to pray for you! Please leave your prayer requests below and we can pray for each other, no matter how we spend our morning prayer time. Meet me back here tomorrow and I'll share the ponderings from my #morningrun.