Invest in Relationships

     Another question that was asked of me recently went something like this: "How do you invest in the relationships in your life?" In my mind, I instantly responded, "Nope. I'm single. No relationship for me to invest in." But then I pushed back that insecure part of me and started thinking about all of the relationships that are present in my life. 

     My relationships with my mom, dad, grama, and sisters. My relationship with my nieces. My relationships with my students. My relationships with my friends who live locally. My relationships with my friends who live farther away. My relationships with my co-workers who get to see my when I am most stressed :/ My relationships with the people in my small group Bible study. All of these people, in all aspects of my life. 

      What would our lives be without other people? (all of the introverts are saying things such as "peaceful" and "lovely") But seriously, we are all interdependent in some way or another so without those people, what would your life look like? So then my follow-up question is this, what are you doing to devote yourself to those people? 

     As I sit here and type this, I am asking myself all the same questions. Yes, it is easier for me to sit here in my apartment and cruise Pinterest while watching Netflix, but wouldn't writing a letter to a friend from camp (while watching Netflix) be a better way to devote myself to others? A better way to invest in the people around me?

     This post isn't really an "upper". It's a little convicting (at least for me) and a bit hard to digest. So, maybe as a way to turn things around, grab a pen and paper, or open up a new text message, and thank those who have been investing in you recently.  Because they are the people who make all the difference in this thing called life.