When I became a Christian my freshman year at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, I felt misunderstood and alone, but God was about to change that. As I look back at the shift that took place in my life (that is realizing that I was offered a relationship with God through Jesus and not merely something that felt empty to me) I saw God provide people and friends that understood me and were willing to deal with my messiness and all the junk that was Zach Harrod.
What began as friends has developed into family of sorts. I have a group of friends, largely from college and time during college, that are indeed more than friends. Jesus promises this to all who enter into relationship with Him. I love when Jesus said this:
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29
While I love my family that the Lord has blessed me with for 26 years of my existence, I’m amazed and blessed at the spiritual family He has provided in the last 7 years or so since I began a love relationship with the God of this universe. I have friends that go to bat for me in so many ways. They have rejoiced with me. They have cried with me. They have prayed for me. They have supported me in so many ways. They have struggled through life with me. They have worshiped Jesus with me. They have laughed a lot with me. They have been revolutions with me. And I could go on and on about them, but I will simply say, “Thank you Jesus for each of these very precious souls that care for me and me for them.â€
You might be wondering why I’m going off on this. While two of those friends jumped in their car and drove 8 hours from Oshkosh, WI to see and spend time with me. Yes, me! I feel humbled and I am very grateful that my friends (and in many ways my brother and sister), Jeremy and Stacy, would make the trip to see me and spend time with me.
It was a blast to laugh at stupid things they have witnessed me do in the past, talk about life and where they are at right now, what God is teaching them and of course a ton of laughing. Thank you so much Jeremy and Stacy for making the trip! I love you both! Well, I am going to take a nap. Enjoy a beautiful Sunday afternoon! It is actually beautiful here in Xenia, OH.
