For a long time, I thought one of the most encouraging things I could do for someone walking through a difficult season was to say, “I’ve been there.” When I had experienced something similar, I wanted to tell them what God had done for me. I wanted them to know how He had provided, how He had redeemed what seemed impossible to redeem, and how He had made a way when I could not see one. There is something powerful about hearing from someone who has walked through a similar hardship and can testify to the faithfulness of God. The stories shared with me by friends and family over the years have been deeply encouraging and tangible reminders of all that God has done.

I love Marvel! Not just the recent movies, but also the comics and animated series from my early childhood. I appreciate the character development and relationships, but my favorite part is learning the origin stories of the characters and how they became who they are.

This has me reflecting on the origin stories of relationships in my life. I have found it easy to forget how they began once a person has become interwoven in the fabric of my life.