This year, while I'm thankful for so incredibly many things, I think I am most thankful for those who choose to be involved.
Particularly in my life I am thankful for my Chinese friends who are true friends to me. It's not easy being friends with a foreigner. My Chinese friends still have to work hard to understand my culture, my communication style, my needs, without the benefit of living in my country. They give themselves into a cross-cultural relationship just as much as I do, perhaps more, because they aren't living in my country but still trying to understand me. My friends don't just give up when it's frustrating, but persevere in the relationship, and I am thankful for that.
I'm thankful too for my friends Stateside who persist in friendship. Who remember to send me cards and packages halfway around the world, who lift me up regularly. I'm especially thankful when I talk to them and they take time to listen to my stories and keep being my friend, even though I've changed and I'm not fully American in the same way, they still care and make space in their lives for friendship.
I'm thankful for those who choose to make my work here possible. It often isn't glorious, and they don't get the funny stories by being involved in this work, but without their help I couldn't do what I'm doing, and I am so thankful.
I'm thankful too for the Omniscient One who chooses to become intimately involved in our lives, even when we screw up again and again. I'm thankful He gently leads and guides me, and when He saw that no one else could help, came down Himself to rescue us.
What are you thankful for this year?
Particularly in my life I am thankful for my Chinese friends who are true friends to me. It's not easy being friends with a foreigner. My Chinese friends still have to work hard to understand my culture, my communication style, my needs, without the benefit of living in my country. They give themselves into a cross-cultural relationship just as much as I do, perhaps more, because they aren't living in my country but still trying to understand me. My friends don't just give up when it's frustrating, but persevere in the relationship, and I am thankful for that.
I'm thankful too for my friends Stateside who persist in friendship. Who remember to send me cards and packages halfway around the world, who lift me up regularly. I'm especially thankful when I talk to them and they take time to listen to my stories and keep being my friend, even though I've changed and I'm not fully American in the same way, they still care and make space in their lives for friendship.
I'm thankful for those who choose to make my work here possible. It often isn't glorious, and they don't get the funny stories by being involved in this work, but without their help I couldn't do what I'm doing, and I am so thankful.
I'm thankful too for the Omniscient One who chooses to become intimately involved in our lives, even when we screw up again and again. I'm thankful He gently leads and guides me, and when He saw that no one else could help, came down Himself to rescue us.
What are you thankful for this year?
