John 15:11-17 (The Message)
I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. But remember the root command: Love one another.
So, in my job as a realtor I get really excited when my friends call on me to help them buy or sell a property. It gives me great joy to share what I know with them, but what I really love is that moment when they find what they want or sell what they need to. The look of excitement in their eyes is priceless. Most of my business over the past 4 years have been a friend or family member, or at least someone referred by a friend or family member. There is no greater compliment.
But, in the past year, I have listed three houses for great friends of our family. The first was my youngest daughters friend from the neighborhood, they were moving all the way to Texas for a new job. Then there was another friend who had to move to PA, again for a job, and this one was even harder to let go of. This little girl was also a good friend of our youngest daughter. They had been doing gymnastics together since they were both 4 years old. And now, the family's home I'm listing is not only friends of Natalie's but of all of us. Our daughters are the same ages, our husbands both play in the worship band at church, and she and I both have a passion for teaching our youth about how much Jesus loves them and sharing that love as they go along in life. So when she called me and told me that they would need to move, again for a job, I said yes with tears in my eyes.
I could go into how our job market keeps falling, and how great and deserving people are having to figure out how to live again after the loss of a job or how much my families hearts are going to break when this family moves. But, really that wouldn't accomplish much. I am all for a little self pity from time to time, but spending to much time in that place only leads to more self pity. So, I am greatful for the time that I have had with them living here and the new adventures we will have in the future in their new city!
We will enjoy the time we have with them before they go and have a FANTASTIC party to say goodbye!
I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. But remember the root command: Love one another.
So, in my job as a realtor I get really excited when my friends call on me to help them buy or sell a property. It gives me great joy to share what I know with them, but what I really love is that moment when they find what they want or sell what they need to. The look of excitement in their eyes is priceless. Most of my business over the past 4 years have been a friend or family member, or at least someone referred by a friend or family member. There is no greater compliment.
But, in the past year, I have listed three houses for great friends of our family. The first was my youngest daughters friend from the neighborhood, they were moving all the way to Texas for a new job. Then there was another friend who had to move to PA, again for a job, and this one was even harder to let go of. This little girl was also a good friend of our youngest daughter. They had been doing gymnastics together since they were both 4 years old. And now, the family's home I'm listing is not only friends of Natalie's but of all of us. Our daughters are the same ages, our husbands both play in the worship band at church, and she and I both have a passion for teaching our youth about how much Jesus loves them and sharing that love as they go along in life. So when she called me and told me that they would need to move, again for a job, I said yes with tears in my eyes.
I could go into how our job market keeps falling, and how great and deserving people are having to figure out how to live again after the loss of a job or how much my families hearts are going to break when this family moves. But, really that wouldn't accomplish much. I am all for a little self pity from time to time, but spending to much time in that place only leads to more self pity. So, I am greatful for the time that I have had with them living here and the new adventures we will have in the future in their new city!
We will enjoy the time we have with them before they go and have a FANTASTIC party to say goodbye!
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