support system

Growing up is tough stuff, let me tell you.  These past few weeks have been pretty downers for me.  What with the tragic shooting at our school, this past weekend's symposium on human trafficking, and then other hot-topic issues I've been wrestling with.  

I don't know why it feels like it has all hit me at once these past few weeks, but I sure have felt like I've been carrying some pretty heavy bricks around trying to sort through my thoughts and opinions and beliefs.  

I'm the type of person who learns from not just reading other people's opinions and stances, but then also being able to question other's opinions (even if I agree with them) and hear their justifications and reasonings behind their stance.  These past issues I've been wrestling with have been pretty big.  And there is no way I could have sorted through them without my parents or friends.

I trust my parents and their opinions.  And while sometimes when I sort through my own reasonings for my opinions I end up with the same views as them, I think it's important to be able to understand why I believe what I believe for myself, and not because my parents taught me it was the "right" thing to believe in.  Both my parents have been so patient with me as I continue to ask them the "hard" questions and as I question the way society is going.  

And then if talking with my parents wasn't enough, I have been so incredibly blessed with friends up here at school who are just as patient and wise.  I have one friend who took my call really late one night while she was out with friends.  It meant so so so much to me that she listened to where I was and gave me advice despite her being busy at that moment.  Seriously, she rocks.  And then other friends who have allowed me to question them and be vulnerable with my raw thoughts and questions.  Seriously. My support system here at school outshines any expectations I could have imagined I would have in college. And as if those friends on campus weren't enough, my friends studying abroad have been there for me, too, around the clock (literally).  God knew I needed these people in my life and He put them there so perfectly. 

This may sound like such a cheese-fest, but I am seriously so blessed and thankful for the people I have in my life right now.  I'm still wrestling with some things, but having my family/friends by my side as I do so has made such a huge impact on this tough journey of mine.  They have reminded me to turn to God with all these thoughts, as He is the only one with the answers.  And though He may not give me those answers, He, too, is a soundboard to bounce questions and confusions at.  And isn't that something incredible?