Faith…isn’t always a leap.  Sometimes it’s just one little step after another with lots of falling down and getting back up in between.

That’s life.  Ups and downs…downs and ups.  Never steady, always changing.  And like that box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.

I have a friend who recently lost everything.  I won’t invade her privacy by telling you the how’s or when’s, but she is left to rebuild from the bottom up with nothing.  Is she depressed?  No.  Is she down and out?  No.  Instead of dwelling on her own problems, she continues to surprise others with her giving.  Her prayers.  Her unexpected surprises.  She continues worrying about others and caring for others and giving what she can with what she has. She buys little things and stows them away, waiting for the right person and the right opportunity to surface to give it away.  She feels blessed by all that was given to her after the catastrophe that struck her family.  So much abundance, in fact, that she is able to extend her blessings by sharing her gifts with others in need.

If you talk with her for awhile, you can tell that deep down inside a golden heart is beating. That she may even have brilliant white wings tucked under that tee-shirt she’s wearing.  She smiles a lot.  She’s upbeat. She’s positive and faith-filled. She’s encouraging.  While her own world has been turned upside down, she doesn’t reflect on that but instead asks you about yours.

She brings tears to my eyes with her humbleness and humility and non-ceasing ability to make me smile. I am proud to call her my friend…my role model…my angel on earth. She never ceases to amaze me, and I know her putting in a good word upstairs has caused me to flourish in so many ways.

She gave me a coffee mug today with the FAITH inscription that opens this blog.  It brought tears to my eyes, and I just wanted to say thank you to her for putting everything into perspective for me.