Taking the Challenge

I'm sharing this today not to point to what I did, but to encourage you to try something new, even if it feels scary!

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I introduced you to my friend, Faith, who had taken time to bring me a gift on Valentine's Day several years ago? She was in a relationship then, and I was not, but she still took time out of her own busy life to make sure I had a gift on Valentine's Day.

Sharing that with you made it stir in my heart.

And then my mom sent that challenge list that I shared on the Saturday Six...about reaching out to others on Valentine's Day.

So Friday night, when Ryan and I were grocery shopping, I noticed all the rose bouquets near the checkout lanes, and I thought about Ryan's day of work on Saturday. I'd planned to stay home and write, but I knew right then that God had other plans for me. I put a dozen roses in our cart and told Ryan I was going to make some deliveries Saturday morning.

I got up and ready and then blew out to the car {MAN was it blustery} to head out for the day. I hadn't really checked ahead with most people, but I thought I'd give it a shot. I drove to the homes of some of my single friends. Some have never been married. Others are divorced or widowed. But all of them are loved, and I thought they deserved to know so on this day.

I got the biggest blessing out of knocking on their doors and watching their eyes light up when they saw the roses. I told them all I loved them and was thankful for them and just wanted them to know they were loved on this day.

One of my friends wanted a picture with me...a few wanted to know if I could stay and talk for a while...and the smiles from all of them were so worth the trip, which turned a bit harrowing for a while. Yeah. THIS wasn't in the forecast!

Despite the slick roads and whiteouts I ended up pushing through, it was SO worth it. {Also worth it - chasing my hat down a driveway after it blew off my head!}

Next year, hopefully Ryan and I can have the day off together to do something similar. Seriously the biggest blessing of my day, and I'm so glad I obeyed the urging in my heart.