By Lisa S. Tarno

So I’m doing the do. I’m getting out there in a new place and meeting people. As well, my husband and my strategy in this new place is the fire-hydrant-approach to meeting people. We are getting involved in a lot of things to put ourselves out there socially, spiritually and athletically. Whoosh! Let it flow and see where it goes. 

It’s been over a year since we moved to this new place. Slowly, things are starting to take shape. I’ve written about the terrible awkwardness around being a new person trying to engage in a pre-existing environment of various friendships and community. Yee Gads! Even for the parts of my extroverted personality it is a challenge to keep at it. I have commented before that I feel more like an introverted extrovert at this season. 

But…my God is faithful and always has been with providing for my needs. The Bible says in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” It’s starting to unfold little by little where my hope is renewed. In the realm of friendships, He has provided the right friends at the right season and I trust that He will do it again. I smile when a new connection comes together and look up and say a “thank you, Father” to Him when I see it come into focus. It’s a sweet tingle of emotion confirming to my heart that He hears my prayers and will tend to my needs of friendships in this new place.

It dawned on me this morning a well known fact that when you make regular deposits to most anything, it will grow. This is certainly true in the banking world and most of life as well. I was prompted to comment on the things I positively notice to my seedling relationships. It’s not flattery or anything for gain, but just taking the time to speak words of life to others as I see fit. 

As believers of Christ, we are encouraged to speak words of life and edify each other. We don’t do this in an excessive or obnoxious way but more in a prompted or timely way. Even in my established relationships with family and others, it is important to encourage them with a kind word or observation. In the Bible, Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” Yes! This is my point. As well, Hebrews 10:24 says, “and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love…”

Consider Psalm 119:50 as it reads, “…Your word has revived me and given me life,” paired with Proverbs 18:21 that expresses, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” What we say can either grow or destroy a relationship. That’s a powerful reality that is poetically written. All throughout scriptures we are given the choice to choose life or choose death. More and more I am choosing to speak words of life more freely and abundantly. 

The brutal heat this summer in Arizona and lack of rain has caused even stoic, legendary saguaros to wither and topple over.  They advised to put shade cloths over them at night to help cool them down so they could breathe and occasionally mist water over them. My backyard is supposed to be self sustaining xeriscape, however I did tend to the extreme need to care for my cacti. So far, they are thriving and the parallel is to our valuable relationships in life, especially in hard seasons, we must nurture them to sustain life.

Whatever you feed will grow! For all the blessings of seedling friendships, I am prompted to water them and nurture them and continue to do so. Good relationships take time and energy to grow. We have to invest or make regular deposits into them. This writing is my prompting today to write this blurb of hopeful insight to others. It may be elementary advice to most but take it as a kindly reminder to cherish the relationships you have been given in life and take the time to nurture them and make regular deposits!