Hope & Minding Your Circle

It's about who sees you.

Hope Matters

Hope Buddies, lately I’ve been even more mindful of the people with whom I surround myself. Now, I’ve always been picky about whom I choose to call friend; and as I reflect on each of the people I now choose to call friends, I’m keenly aware of their intentions toward me and reminded of a passage in Mark chapter 2. There are so many nuggets in this particular passage I’m struggling to focus on only one. However, let’s get to this paraplegic and these four men. I’d dare to say they were his friends, because who else is going to carry you on a stretcher?!

Here’s the thing I love about this portion of scripture. They carried this man to the door to be healed by Jesus. When they couldn’t get in, these guys decided to go another route. Through the roof no less! Even Jesus was impressed by their belief. So much that He just went on and healed the man, no questions asked.

Let me tell y’all something. These are my kinda people! Folks who will help you figure it out and get you to Jesus. There are times when my faith fails, and I need people who will go into action and remind me Whose I am. You know, carry me on my stretcher. ‘Cause sometimes I’m just out here laid out thinking God won’t do what He said and acting like I don’t know who He has been, is, and will be to me. Considering my relationship and walk with Him, that’s an ENTIRE shame! 🤦🏾‍♀️ 🙄 Please know, Hope Buddies, as much as I roll my eyes at other people, I roll my eyes at myself, too. I’m no respecter of person. 😆

It’s always been important to me to surround myself with likeminded people. And sometimes, that meant, not only new people came into my life, others cycled out. And you know what? That’s all okay. Sometimes, we hold onto people who aren’t good for us in one way or another simply because they’ve been with us for a while. Now, I’m not saying just cut people off. I am saying be open to the relationship shifting in the way you need.

Recently, I’ve added to my circle. Now, for me, this one feels scary, because it feels like it happened so fast. (I’m always leery of fast relationships, whether friend or love.) However, this one was also a natural fit. So, I’m embracing the weirdness of my feelings, because this friendship so far has been a good one. I’m being pushed out of my comfort zone in a way I never have, and I know it’s because this person sees who I am. Let me tell you; this person is a force to be reckoned with. I’m simultaneously loving the relationship and about to run away. 😆 (I know this person was a God-send, though. ☺️)

Hope Buddies, I encourage you to reflect on your relationships. Examine them. Are you being supported in the way you need? Are you giving more than you’re getting? Are you taking more than you’re giving? (‘Cause sometimes we’re the problem, right?) Spend some time minding your circle, because that deserves your attention, too. It’s indeed part of how we care for ourselves and our mental and spiritual wellbeing.

Hope in minding your circle. ☕️

Coffee Matters

Coffee Buddies, I’ve been playing with various methods of making my morning coffee. This week, I’m finally using my Aeropress I received for Christmas. 🤦🏾‍♀️ Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. It’s giving me the same type of clean-tasting coffee as my pourover, although it requires a different process.

2. Much like the way I press this coffee, when I’m being pressed in life, something good is coming on the other side of the pressing.

That has been a whole lesson for me each morning as I make my coffee. If you’d like to see what the process looks like, check it out here.

So…

What are you hoping and sipping this week?

I appreciate you taking the time to read this hopeletter about my life and coffee. Please share with a friend who could use a little hope or coffee recommendation.