One word...Community

 

R.G. entertaining Noah

The motorcycles that visit our store once a year

The hardest workers in the village 😁

Fun times

The Mercantile (the heart of my community)

Everybody needs one

More Community

THE Community

    This week I listened to a book called Find your People by Jennie Allen. In it she talks about having a "community" of people and being a part of a community. I listened to another book this past summer titled The Life Council and formed my own life council. I listen to Elevation Church sermons with Steven Furtick in the morning when I'm on the elliptical and this past week it was about community, Priscilla Shirer had a sermon about community I listened to this week. For the past two weeks, Pastor Dave has been preaching on community. Today as I was driving home from church and just thinking, the word community kept coming up. I was like OK Lord, I hear you. See this morning I got up and kind of dawdled (as my mom calls it) and was on the fence about going to church this morning. I, of course, would have listened to it online, but one thing after another was happening and I felt like the devil was trying everything he could to keep me from going to church. So I was determined to get to church this morning. I got there (on time even) and had big expectations. 

    Community kept coming up this week. I live in an amazing community, I grew up in two good communities. I know them and I love them. In the book Find your People  she talks about building your own community of people. She talks about third world countries where women would meet at the river every day to wash clothes together and talk. She goes on to say that later when they got washing machines, they became depressed. Now personally, I would be depressed if I had to go to the river and wash the mounds of clothes my family produces. But, I get it. They missed each other and spending time together. She talks about how people don't "borrow sugar" from their neighbors anymore. We just go to the store and buy the sugar. Our culture has become so independent. I didn't think about it, but when I heard her say it, it was like a lightbulb went off in my head. She is right! We were created by God to need one another. God created woman so man wouldn't be alone. We were made for communities. I am so, so grateful that I live and have lived in communities' where people still need each other. Where people still know what you're doing before you do and where your kids can't get by with anything because someone knows  your momma and daddy! 

    I hope each of you reading this live in a community of people that will be there for you when you need sugar, or need someone to take your kid to livestock judging (thank you Carrie & John Kelly) or a "community" of people who get together to lift each other up, cry on each others shoulders and be each others biggest cheerleaders. You know the old saying "it takes a village?" Lets not forget that. Lets step out of our comfort zone, talk to someone. Ask them how their day is going and when they ask you back, be honest with them. Be there to listen, to laugh, to cry, to offer a hug or a word of encouragement. We need each other, especially in this day and time. I need my people! If you need people, well you know where to find me. 

Wishing you sunny skies and green pastures,

McKession