Ripe for Harvest

Sitting around the campfire last weekend, I had a delighful conversation with a friend of mine. He is someone I've always looked up to as a brother and enjoy hanging out with when I happen to be in the area. We were talking about my current job, as a live-in caregiver, and one of the his questions caught me a bit off guard and began to nag at me. He asked me what my commitment was to the family I work for and if I could see myself at that job 5 years down the road. This stunned me at first because, although I'm commited to the family here as long as they have need of me, I had not quite thought of it in that light. Before our conversation I had been focused more on the day to day happenings and trying to figure out what I would do when my job did end, as it inevitably will at some point. This fresh perspective has given me such a better attitude about my life as it stands and has encouraged me to see, once again, how much I need to trust God and rely on Him.
This is a lesson I am continually learning and have heard I am not alone in this struggle. It is amazing how comforting it is to know that I am not the only one that has such frustrating struggles and seems to be reminded of them all the time. During my same visit last weekend I had two VERY lovely chats with my friend I was staying with. We stayed up rather late both nights I was there. She was such a blessing to me, encouraging me, praying with me, and just listening to me. It is amazing the blessings God gives us and I am so very thankful for the brothers and sisters in Christ He has given to me. I pray that I might be just as encouraging and helpful to my fellow believers in Christ.