Relationships

I am am extremely relationship-oriented. Big surprise, right? No. Most people, most women, are driven by their relationships. We also see the perfect picture of relationship in the trinity-Father, Son, and Spirit-and we strive for the same. As I thought about my various relationships, I began to see beauty in the people God has placed in my life. Family. Friends. Church. Professors. Co-workers. Employers. I am overwhelmed by the joy I find in these connections with people. God has been challenging me to get the focus off of myself, onto him, and then onto others. So, today, I would love to reflect on one relationship and on one person who brings so much to my life.

Joshua Martin Looney sometimes exemplifies his last name. He would kill me if he knew I was writing this about him, but that makes him all the more worthy of these words. Josh and I met in high school after a year of choir, competitive speaking, and mutual friends' urging for us to get together. Yep, we were pretty much set up. We dated for about six months, realized we were nothing more than good friends, and since then, we've been closer than I could have ever imagined. Throughout the past four years, I have seen Josh grow into a man in pursuit of the Father's heart. We are famous for our coffee house conversations, something that happened often. In those conversations, I've seen a passionate, hungry follower of Jesus. Josh wants to be culturally aware, yet compassionate and loving towards every individual. He and I share a love for music, literature, movies, and foreign lands, all of which can be discussed for hours at Barnes and Noble.

As wonderful as Josh seems, he has a few imperfections. For one, he loves Angelina Jolie and we will never come to an agreement about this woman. :) He also enjoys kidnapping his friends and leading them to unknown places. At times, Josh is known to ditch certain gatherings of friends because of "family dinners" or "birthdays." We are often suspicious of these things.

Imperfections and all, I'm so thankful for my brother. He recently sent me an amazing letter in the mail-yes, in the mail!-that made my spirits jump with joy. I read this letter, and I understood God's love again. I don't deserve friends like Josh who take time to encourage me, to tell me how wonderfully made I am. God is so gracious to give me relationships like this. I have known Josh to be one of my greatest cheerleaders and affirmers-if Josh says I can do it, I can. And I can name numerous times God has used Josh's words to speak clearly to me.

He pushes me through Wal-Mart in a cart. He makes ridiculous amounts of cookies. Josh studies for the LSATS during the summer, while I read my speaking book. :) He is talented, determined, caring, passionate, honest, and inviting, and I'm grateful for my inclusion in his life.