#TFLMA

Sarah Spiceland and I have grown so much closer in the past year. Yeah we fight, argue, get frustrated, forget grace, don't love each other well, misinterpret, and occasionally yell, but we work through it. Through all of this mess, one of our favorite phrases has become "Thanks for loving me anyways." ( I realize that we sound like we are dating right now...get over it.)

I get a text from her the other day that said #TFLMA. (Because it's cool to hashtag everything.) Thanks for loving me anyways. She meant it in a joking matter, kinda sarcastically, because we were talking about our ridiculously obnoxious friendship but I, for some reason, literally had tears well up in my eyes.

Thanks.

For.

Loving.

Me.

Anyways.

That simple statement holds a lot of depth. We have said it to each other for a long time but for some reason, that ordinary day, it gave me a new perspective.

When I say that to Sarah, I am saying:

I am messed up.
I am not a perfect friend.
I sometimes hurt you.
I can often take you for granted.
I forget to love you well.
I don't always show you grace.
I get frustrated when I shouldn't.
I say things that I want to take back.

On and on and on...

But through all of that, Thank you, Sarah Spiceland, for loving me anyways. Because of all of that. Regardless of my mess. Thank you for being there and encouraging me.

When she said "Thanks for loving me anyways," I immediately thought, OF COURSE. Yes. I am going to love you. With all of your messiness, craziness, whatever. I will love you anyways.

Can't help but think about how the Lord looks down on us and thinks the same thing. "Yes, I will love you even though you are messed up. I love you now, and I will love you always."

Grace. So incredibly thankful for it. 

Father, thanks for loving me anyways.

Remember that.

#TFLMA