dear me,
today marks one year at the dale for you! you did it! i am proud of you. i know there were days when you thought this anniversary would never come, you weren’t sure if you would make it. there were other days it was easier, and you walked forward towards this with confidence. hold both of those days as important. they got you here.
your community got you here as well and you wouldn’t have it done it without them. some days they really had to stand behind you and push. those words of encouragement, the checking in, the grace and mercy, the love and care. be grateful for your (not so new) community that is holding you lightly on the days you feel heavy. they love you and you love them. even when it’s hard.
those people in your community that believe in you and continue to believe in you, be glad for them. remember how they give you prayer, financial blessings, encouragement… you need to keep telling your story. don’t forget that.
continue to thank god for erinn and jo. this year has been filled with many things, heavy and light, that you walked through together. death, marriage, laughter, tears, hard conversations and easily made jokes. sometimes they all come in the span of an hour. continue to be glad for the bond you are making and that you can look around and see that they are there with you still.
i know you thought you would never be able to fit in here, but you are. when someone says you are family, when someone says they did a good job hiring you, when you get called the dale girls and people mean you too… you are continuing to crease and mold your space in this community. rest in that, but continue to take your time. you now know where the tables go and who sits where. you can sit with someone and be without looking for something to do and that is a huge step for you. those things that felt so foreign are more familiar now. rejoice in that.
there are so many memories, so many people, so much loss already, and so much joy. this will not suddenly become easy. but it will always be good. one year, four seasons, hundreds of new faces, two new teammates and best friends, hundreds of prayers, thousands of steps on queen street, and one whole new year in front of you. may you learn to love people better, may you find your voice when it feels quiet, may you continue to experience grace and mercy, may you make many more happy memories, and may you remember that this is kingdom work and His hands are yours – use them well.
love,
me.
It would mean so much to me if you were able to partner financially with The Dale to support my role within this ministry. There are a number of ways to do this, including CanadaHelps, PAR, or cheque. Please reach out to me if you would like more information on partnering with me in this way. Thanks for your support!
meagan.emily 