I am a loved woman. This is the feeling after leaving the Allume Conference in Greenville, South Carolina. I’m loved by bloggy-friends. I’m loved by my editors and agents. {I am loved by my family at home, of course.} Mostly, I’m loved by God.
I’m not saying this in a prideful way but in a thankful way. It’s amazing to walk into a place and feel friendship-love in such a powerful way. I am accepted and appreciated, and I accept and appreciate in return.
Women loving women. Women supporting women. Women guiding, instructing, and helping women. Women pointing women to God. Women supporting one’s call. Women cherishing kid stories. Women praying for women.
In a room full of these bloggers, I saw influencers, role models, visionaries, and God-seekers. I saw women compassionate for a lost world. I saw knee-bent mommies with overflowing hearts. I saw tender warriors who aren’t too tough to climb onto their Daddy’s lap.
I heard encouragement. I heard compassion. I heard sobs. I heard praises. I heard stories. I heard dreams. I heard prayers. I heard prophecies. I heard inspired, God-breathed messages.
I feel refreshed, renewed, and ready for revival. I feel hopeful for families, for readers, and for communities. I feel that if these are the women are raising voices of hope and truth, then renewal with come. As their words fill computer screens, iPads, and smart files, the ripple affect will go far and wide.
I am a loved women because God showed me that, even though there are times when I feel weary from serving my family, my readers, and my community, I’m not alone. There are women who love me. There are women I love, and as we strive together and share burdens we can go greater distances together.
Do you have women who love you, support you, and encourage you? If not, that this should be your prayer for the coming year. “Lord, open my heart for others,” and “Lord, open others’ hearts for me.”
For many years I focused on my to-do list, and unfortunately building relationships wasn’t on that sheet. I accomplished a lot, but I often questioned if my work even mattered.
It does. You know how I know? These women told me it did. God’s love poured out of them this week . . . and I was a willing recipient.
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