30 Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 7

Who do you find are the people with the most influence on your life? Perhaps a national figure? Maybe a few from your past? Perhaps someone long gone whose mark in their time is making an impact now in yours? I suppose the influential people in our life vary with the seasons of life we happen to be in.

The one thing that hasn't changed throughout the seasons of my life thus far, are how many women have influenced my life. Why they influenced me certainly varied because of those seasons, but each one has left a lasting mark on my life - a moment that I can pinpoint and say that they impacted me and effected change in my life. 

To go through and list these women one by one would take too long, but I want to name a few. They represent many seasons in my life, some have been through a few seasons with me, and I love each of them. 

My mom. I'll probably have a whole post devoted to her soon - that's how thankful I am for her. She has been a constant influence on my life. Through childhood and now through me being a mom. Mom, I love you.

Aubrey. This woman amazes me beyond words. Never before have I met someone with such grace, humility, passion to serve others, and stamina. The energy this lady has astounds me. She has words of encouragement for everyone she meets, and won't let people give up if she can do something to help them succeed. Her testimony of God's grace in her life is powerful, and she proudly gives Him all the glory for the things in her life. Through her example and her consistent, "You can do it!" attitude, I took reigns of our finances and we're on our way to being debt free. That's probably the most notable of how she's influenced me recently, but there have been lots of other little things along the way. I don't have a visit with Aubrey without feeling like I can accomplish something I didn't think I could before. 

Laine. I'm pretty sure I can say she was my first "mommy friend". We were new to our church, our boys are 3 weeks apart in age and she invited me to come to her house for coffee with some other moms she knew. Little did she know she was beginning a circle of close friends that would be a consistent source of encouragement, laughter, relief in tough times, and joy. Laine has a wonderful gift of hospitality and she has blessed these moms on Mondays for two years opening her home and serving us coffee (the mommy fuel). 

Beth. I met Beth when I was eleven and my family had just moved to Seattle. Over the years, she and her family have become our family here in Washington. We've spent many a holiday with them for as long as I can remember since we've been here. She also has the gift of hospitality and extending that to people from every walk of life. She is a quiet person (until you know her a little better), and yet she is bolder than I in so many ways. She challenges to me to reach beyond my comfort zone and show the love of Christ to people other than those that mesh with my personality or interests or lifestyle. Her faith is quiet, yet fierce. 

I want to go on and on, and there are more ladies I'm itching to acknowledge, but it would make this post insanely long. So, in short, there are no words for how thankful I am for the women that God has placed in my life, now and in the past, to influence, challenge, encourage, and push me forward in my faith. I love you, ladies!