Sunday Sentiments

Last year, I wrote about WillowBridge's first birthday party (which took place a few days after its actual first birthday) and how God had brought us to this place that we didn't even know existed back when it was first born!

Today we celebrate WillowBridge's second birthday, and my reflection-loving heart has reflected heavily and heartily over the last few days. 

This time, as we celebrate, Ryan and I have been here for the entire last year. We've rejoiced over the beautiful celebratory moments and have agonized over the heartbreaks. And there have been plenty of each.

In this past year, we have served a total of eight young adults and two small children. Not all of them lived here at the same time. Some have been here many months and others just a few days. Some have worked so intentionally to forge a different life for themselves than the one they had. Others didn't find this to be the best fit for them and moved on to something else. But all of them - all of them - have left a deep impact on our hearts.

Last night, Ryan and I watched the photo montage of the last year, and my heart was gripped by all the memories we've shared in this place in the past year. 

I will never get over the complete wonder on the girls' faces when they opened all their Christmas gifts and found their wishes right in front of them. I will never forget stopping the party entirely so one could catch her breath, because she kept saying over and over, "Is this really for me?" 

We've played (and I've lost) more games of Skip Bo than I can even count. And sometimes a game of Skip Bo isn't even about the game. It's about a tenant just needing a little extra time with us and wanting to know that everything is okay. And when Skip Bo happens, the world is okay. 

I've marveled at the really good things that have happened for some of our tenants. The life skills that some of them have pushed themselves to acquire in their time here has been an accomplishment you and I could never fully understand. Some have kept the same job for an entire year, which had previously been unheard of for them. They've studied for and earned learner's permits. They've made a community for themselves among the people of this town. They've learned to ask people for help. They've learned to have hard conversations. They've learned to advocate for themselves.

Likewise, there have been such heartbreaking moments. I remember one conversation with a tenant that left me crumpled on the floor of our apartment, sobbing in defeat. I called Rob at 11:00 on a Saturday night and cried over the phone about how I was not cut out for this work and he probably made a mistake in hiring me, because I didn't know what I was doing, and I was pretty sure I was doing it all wrong. Bless him for listening and not trying to fix it. (Update: The relationship with the tenant was repaired and actually left a huge impact on both sides!) 

We've had to say goodbye to some tenants before we were ready. We have had to hear hard truths from others. I remember one night, sitting in the WillowBridge office while Ryan was at the gym. In the space of one hour, I received two life-altering texts from two different tenants. My entire body went numb and I had no idea how to respond. In truth, there weren't words. I sat in the chair, holding Phoebe, praying the simple prayer I prayed the same night I knelt by Ryan's mom's bed while she took her last breaths: "Jesus, be near." 

We've prayed over this place. We've prayed with and for our tenants. We've answered their questions about life and faith. We've held them accountable. We've stood beside them through unspeakably hard times and unspeakably joyous times.

This past year has not been for the faint of heart, but it also is one worthy of celebration. In this year, we have seen God at work in our own hearts and in this place. We have no idea what is to come. We have no idea who we will serve in the year to come or how God will move and work. 

But today, we say...happy birthday, WillowBridge. We celebrate what God has done!