Journey Day 323

I am so grateful the friends God has blessed me with. They challenge me, and they are honest with me. Sometimes the truth is a hard pill to swallow, and so sometimes our automatic reaction is to feel hurt and defensive, but I know that after I have some time to think about it I'm always grateful for their honesty. That is a true test of character I think... can you be honest even when it's difficult? I tend to be a people pleaser, so I never want to hurt anyone's feelings or step on anyone's toes so that means that sometimes it's hard for me to be completely honest with my friends. It's easier for me to tell them what I think they want to hear. But you know what? I think that I am doing them a diservice by not being totally truthful with them. I want to grow, and that means being challenged and pushed, and that requires honesty on my part, but also honesty from my friends. Follow Me to Freedom had me make a list of people that I admire and want to follow, and only one of them was someone that I didn't know personally.

1. Jesus (obv)
2. Shane Claiborne (he's the one I don't know, although I totally wish I did)
3. Meagan Van Engen (She's pretty much awesome, and she's honest with me even when I don't want to hear it... totes appreciate that)
4. Jenna Ketterning (She's my old roommate and one of my nearest and dearest friends. She's also honest with me all the time, and isn't afraid to tell me when I'm in the wrong! I respect her muchos)
5. My parents (Boy are they honest with me! Haha Sometimes I get upset when they are honest with me, but in reality I know their honesty comes with good intentions and I love them for it!)
6. Amber Hasson (She is my mentor, and one of the best friends I've ever had! Her friendship is such an incredible blessing to me!)
7. Kevin Jones (He's one of those friends that's honest with me, even when I don't think I want the honesty. He's also incredibly giving, and he likes to do it in secret which I so respect!)
8. Tiffany Hetzlein (We're newer friends and she's going to China with me! We have one of those friendships were we will bicker and fight, but at the end of the day we still love each other! Love that!)
9. I know there are many many more friends that I'm just incredibly blessed by, but the book only gave me so many lines to write on...so numero 9 is for the rest of my awesome friends that encourage, bless and challenge me!

So friends, thanks for loving me even though I'm a snot about 75% of the time! You'll never know how much you truly bless me! : )