It takes a "-ville" and a "-boro" . . .

Some say, "It takes a village to raise a child." In my case it's taken a "ville" (Batesville) and a "boro" (Greensboro) to raise me.

As I get ready to leave the country. I spent about a week and a half in my hometown where I was met with the warmest embraces and the most encouraging words. I feel as though I have the whole town behind me. In Batesville, I learned so much and experienced so much that has shaped me into who I am today. Grades K-12 were in the Batesville School District, one upon which I brag for the rest of my life. My best, life-long friends were made in Batesville, although just a few still live there. These are the friends who have seen the best and the worst of me and love me anyway. They are the ones who are willing to go the extra mile to stay in touch even if we haven't seen each other for a couple of years. They are the ones who colored with me in elementary school, played teather ball with me in middle school, tight-rolled their jeans and dreamed about being all grown up with me in junior high, went to camp and sang in youth choir with me in high school, made road trips to visit in college, encouraged me when I got sick and had to leave Baylor, struggled with some of the hard questions of life with me, were honest with me about how my eating disorder drove them up the wall, stayed in touch when I moved to Georgia, and will still go out of their way to make time to see me when I'm in their neighborhood.

I'm now back in Greensboro, where I appeared a couple of years ago as a stranger to the entire community. Here I've been adopted by so many and made some deep friendships. I've become much more secure in who I really am because I was able to be anything and start over, but realized that much of personality that I thought might just be my "role" in Batesville was actually very much a part of me. I found a renewed passion for the nations and for the family of our Father. I've been challenged and stretched and as a result shaped for the exact position to which He has called me.

Most of those who know from the "ville", know how long I struggled to prove that I didn't need anyone in my life besides Him. I thought I could prove my dependence and love for Him by shutting other people and other things out of my life. I thought that I needed to prove my independence from the world by withdrawing. I pushed many away in the "ville" and they remained faithful. "Thank you."

Most of those who know me from the "boro", need to know that your acceptance and love has taught me that I do need others and enjoy others, and that others are a gift from Him. You were all willing to take a chance on the new girl a couple of years ago. "Thank you."

Those who are new in my life may wonder where you belong in this blog. Well, I know that I still have a lot of growing to do, so I look forward the rest of you impacting my life and shaping me in the years to come. Maybe it takes a "ville", a "boro", and many more things to raise a child.