You Make a Difference to Me

Once you get out of school, it becomes more of a complex issue to make new friends. Actually, moving to a new town can be one of the loneliest prospects as an adult. When you're still in school, it's not as difficult. There are built-in opportunities to meet people, which makes it much easier. I am certain that the degree of difficulty and loneliness is compounded even further when you are a stay-at-home mom moving into a new town. I haven't experienced that, but my job involves working exclusively with teenagers, so I have experienced a lack of opportunity to meet other adults in a new place to some degree.

When I first graduated from college and moved to my husband's home town, I was lonely. He had all his childhood friends around. I had no one. The ladies in the church were not willing to put forth any effort for me -- they already had their circles of friends. I'm on the shy-er side, so I'm not the easiest person to get to know. I like to think I'm worth the effort though. :)

When we moved to our city of current residence, the only thing that changed was my husband wasn't on his old stomping grounds anymore either. We attended a church for about three years, and didn't really connect with anyone there. Then we went through a family crisis, and I realized no one at that church cared about me or my family (kind of a bad feeling). I started to try out other churches, hoping for a good fit. It took a couple of different places, but it was worth it.

It has been exactly six years. I feel connected to a group of people; I feel like I am liked (at least a little); and I feel like someone thought I was important enough to make an effort for. I just want to tell you -- my friends -- You have made a difference for me. I was a stranger, and you invited me in. My family was in crisis, and you accepted us anyway. Thank you.

I posted a youtube video bar in the margin I think is well worth your time. It's the top thumbnail. You never know what people are going through when you encounter them. Let them know they are worth the effort.