Before I headed home for the summer, my friend invited me to church one last time. On Sunday, I woke up with a headache because I didn’t get enough sleep, so I instead went with her to Bible study on Wednesday.

Before church, we had a delicious meal, which I just devoured with no mercy. Two slices of pizza, a bowl of salad, a slice of amazing chocolate cake, a bowl of vanilla ice cream and a mix of lemonade and tea to drink made for a wonderful meal that I was very thankful for.

As I was eating, my friend was collecting cards while the church members at Bible study talked. With the stress of finals combined with the disorienting feeling I get each time I pack everything up and move, this was a wonderful break.

We all ate and relaxed for an hour and a half, then it was time for Bible study. 

I will be honest with you – during Bible study, I felt so relaxed that I wasn’t even thinking about anything. 

I zoned in and out of the discussion, but I did get some of Wednesday’s lesson: If there is someone in your life who will not shake their bad ways, let them go. 

For the longer you hold on, the more you are postponing God’s intervention in their life.

It gave me a lot to think about. It is hard to let someone go when you feel they might be in trouble if you do let go. 

But maybe holding on so tight to them is enabling them to think that they really can’t do it on their own. 

And that’s not true. Don’t abandon anyone in need, especially those you love, but don’t let them lean on you and have them doubt themselves.

It’s a delicate balance, no doubt. And I don’t know how to balance that yet. I’ve made a first step in at least thinking about it, though.

Before we left, my friend was collecting cards.

Those cards were put neatly in a little gift bag … for me! 

I was so touched, I almost cried. “You open one every Sunday while you’re at home and think of us, OK?” she said. “Come back and see us in the fall and don’t forget to stay in touch!”

Of course I’ll come back. 

I had a wonderful time with that church. Over the summer, back home in Chicagoland, I don’t know how I’ll feel.

I will do what they asked. I will open a card each Sunday. Will I keep going to church? I hope so. 

But people up north aren’t as open to Christianity as people are down here in Tennessee. 

Honestly, I feel a bit worried about what people will think … which is very foolish, I shouldn’t, but it’s that human need of just wanting to fit the mold we all have at least once in a while. 

I am hopeful that I will keep growing spiritually over the summer. And I encourage you all to do the same, too! But of course only if you want to. Have a lovely break!

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