Grateful for the Blindside

I hate asking for money.  For anything, really.  It's why I was a terrible Mary Kay Consultant and why I stink at selling cookies for girlscouts.  And yet, I find myself doing just that a lot over the past month--asking for "support" so that our family can move to Thailand and work there.  But I'm learning through this process of asking and receiving that blessing can blindside you in life just as much as tragedy and disappointment, and I must say I''ve been blindsided a lot lately. . .  

Like in the couple who hosted a candle-lit dessert tonight, the weekend before Christmas, so others could hear about what we'll be doing overseas.

Like the college girl who generously gave $10.

Like the former students, now graduates with real jobs and families of their own, who have jumped into this adventure with us by pulling out their debit cards.

Like the family who is choosing to give to our family instead of giving Christmas gifts to each other this year. 

Like the friend who asked so earnestly to know our prayer requests that she felt she needed to apologize.

Like the mom who gave the gift of babysitting when it was desperately needed at the last minute.

Like the precious friend who chooses not to cry when we talk about my leaving, so that I "won't feel too sad about it," and who donates her sewing skills to my shirts that need fixing saying, "Give the money you would have paid me to Thailand."


Yes, I am learning much about what it means to "raise support."  I'm learning that "support" is much broader than just finances, and I am recognizing that it can have a hundred different faces--faces that I didn't expect when we started this process. 

And for all that, I am beyond grateful for the blindside.