We knew we could never do this parenting thing alone.
We weren’t even home from the hospital with her and the people we did life with had already decorated our house. That doesn’t even take into consideration the family and friends who rallied around us, helped us complete paperwork, donated garage sale items, and wrapped around us as we journeyed through adoption to bring her home. The hundreds of strangers who bought a piece of jewelry from my shop or the random checks or cash we would find in our mailbox as we waited for her.
I’m so thankful we’ve never had to do life without community. I can’t imagine what it would look like. I’m just pretty certain it’s something I would never want to do. It’s a risk, letting people in, it is. Opening your front door with dirty dishes still in the sink and sticky kitchen floors, it can be a little nerve wracking. But opening your heart up, letting them walk through that kind of mess is much scarier. But, oh the beauty we’ve found in community over the years. It’s been so worth the risk.
I started praying for a Mrs. Janice when she was just a baby. I knew she was out there somewhere, and the first day I met her, I knew she was the one I had been praying for. We actually moved churches a few years ago, so our children wouldn’t be the minority. It’s important to us. We love so deeply that our church is very diverse. Because that’s what the Kingdom looks like.
But more than anything, I want my girl to grow up with strong, warrior women speaking into her life. I want the women I do life with, the ones who speak into me, who call out the gold, and tell me the things I should leave behind, I want them speaking into her little life too.
I want her to watch me build deep, meaningful relationships with women. Relationships that champion, that spur me on to deeper places in Father’s heart. So she grows up looking for the same, and becomes that same kind of friend.
Mrs. Janice spent most of her day braiding my baby’s hair. We talked about what the Father is cultivating in our hearts. She spoke life into me, and I did the same to her. Along the way, she showed me some new tips. Our kids ate supper together, and we laughed at my undercooked brownies. But the whole time, my sweet girl was listening in.
We weren’t made to do life alone. Even Jesus did life with twelve other people. I’m pressing in deeper than ever before in the secret place with Him. But there are places of His heart, I can’t find alone.
I need my tribe. I need my people to see the areas of my life that I can’t. I need them to remind me of His promises when I start to forget.
It might be scary for you, but find your people. If you haven’t already, start praying to find your tribe. And most definitely, find a Mrs. Janice.