Two mason jars of iced coffee, a comfy couch, and a faded black album full of pictures united us on a breezy, sunny Spring afternoon. Though we had served on two different continents as global women, today it felt as if we could have been neighbors in each other’s host countries.

After stirring our glasses and engaging in small talk, I cracked open my album and my friend offered up the greatest gift a friend can give - she listened. She took interest in the foreign faces and willingly entered into what was once my life. My world.

We both now, somewhat reluctantly, serve stateside. She gets it. We shed some tears together in mutual understanding of the grief that comes with pouring in and then letting go. She, too, has felt the pain of leaving a life behind. As we flipped through the album, we shared stories of joy and loss, hope and grief. Through the tears, we also recounted God’s faithfulness.

Stories of how He worked in our weakness to show Himself strong.

Ways He showed up when we thought we couldn’t take another step.

Blessings He showered on us that we didn’t deserve.

Friendships we made along the way that were worth the investment and worth the pain of goodbye.

Something magnificent happened on my way home. A weight lifted off my shoulders as I reflected on our afternoon visit. I felt refreshed, something I hadn’t felt in a very, VERY long time.

There is something powerful about sharing our stories—the good, the bad, and the ugly—with each other. About declaring God’s faithfulness in the details of our journeys. Really listening. Really sharing. Being willing to reflect on our journeys and unpack where we’ve been and how we’ve felt along the way, about how God has met us and how He’s been faithful in every season. 

We may not always share a comfy couch and an iced coffee, but opportunities abound for us to recount His faithfulness with those around us. 

So tell your story, recount His faithfulness, and revel in the refreshment He brings!