Eternal Gratitude.

To give a little backdrop on this article: I wrote it on July 2nd, 2015, on a bus ride across an island in Fiji. I was looking out the bus window as we wove through mountains and valleys on dirt roads overlooking the most beautiful views, and I was undone with gratitude. Gratitude firstly to God for His incredible faithfulness in my life and devotion to me; but also gratitude toward my Fijian family. It's quite astounding how close you can get with people over a short period of time, and I was ovewhelmed by the family the Lord had given me in these people. So, I wrote this and entitled it "Eternal Gratitude", to try to capture some of what my heart was, and forever will be feeling. Enjoy.

The bonds that knit us together are not just flesh and blood, but something much more powerful. We are connected by circumstance, age, testimony, view on life, and love for the same beautiful Creator. It is not just a fleshly coincidence that makes a family. I have found a family completely not of my own. Of people not of the same age, testimony or circumstance. That's alright though, because the most powerful of these bonds is the love for the Creator. This is a love that changes hearts from broken to complete; that impacts every aspect of life. This is the bond that can bring two people from opposite sides of the world together for no other reason than one: all consuming love. This bond cannot be broken by distance or circumstance; by fleshly distinctions that seemingly define a person. No; this bond is lifelong, and from what I've realized; the most durable. I am honored to have a family as the one I have in Fiji. A family that champions me and that loves Jesus like I do; that stops at nothing in making His name known. This family brings out the best in me that I often forget is even there: the preacher, compassionate lover, servant, teacher, prayer warrior, leader and child. It is an unbelievable gift to find a people that can do that for you, especially when you can't do it for yourself. And though distance can seem to come in the way at times, the gifts I have received from this family will not fade. Once you realize who you are in Christ's eyes, it's pretty hard to forget. And I am eternally grateful for the people that helped make this happen.