I have felt God pressing on my heart for some time now to write a blog about a dear friend of mine who has greatly inspired and potentially changed my life (though she probably has no idea that she's done anything at all). This woman's name is Crystal and she is a fellow military wife and mother of 2 (with number 3 on the way).
If you walk in to Crystals home you will be greeted with a hug and 2 little ones darting towards you to say hello. You will dodge a few toys in the floor on your way to her kitchen table where there is a worn bible sitting beside a notebook and a cup of coffee. There will probably be a few dishes in her sink and there is always something yummy (but healthy) available to eat. If you look around her house you will notice small notecards with meaningful bible verses in well seen places that you cant help but read.
Much like herself, Crystal's home is honest, warm, inviting, and spirit filled.
Im a firm believer the God puts every person you meet into your life for a reason, though sometimes we can't see why. After getting to know Crystal God clearly told me "watch her". The first thing I knew about her was that she was clearly a Christian. Not because she told me she was, or because she invited me to church, or because she asked me if I was saved. No. I knew she was a Christian because her very essence radiated God's love. She is so humble that she's probably reading this thinking "Im not that good at all!". But she is! She is so in tune and focused on our heavenly father that it shows in every aspect of her life from her friendships, to her marriage to her children.
This is not a woman who is unfamiliar with adversity. She spent MANY long months playing single mother to a potty training 2 year old while pregnant with her second when her husband was deployed. During this time I got a late night phone call from her telling me she thought she was in labor only a mere 2 weeks before her husband was due home (and before her due date). I went to her house that night and was met by the calmest laboring woman youve ever met (and my inspiration to go natural myself). This wasnt what she wanted or planned. Her husband was supposed to be there. They had planned a wonderful home birth with a midwife and they were going to share in this wonderful experience. She NEEDED his strong hands to help her through the pain. But he wasnt there. She kept him as up to date as possible through broken conversations (stupid internet overseas) but ultimately she was on her own. The only people there while she labored were myself and another friend.
In the middle of the night when Crystal and I had finally tried to get a few hours of sleep during her labor her daughter awoke crying. Poor little one had vomited every where and Crystal, being the wonderful mother she is, wanted to comfort and clean her girl knowing that in a few hours she wouldnt be the only baby anymore. I watched as this woman of faith and strength bowed over a tub in very active labor washing and cuddling her little girl.
She never put on a show or a brave face. She was very honest with me that she missed her husband but that she knew she could do this with Gods help. She knew that while she wanted her husband with her, God would be her strength and refuge; and he was. Her faith, courage and joy through this was one of the most inspiring and humbling things Ive ever witnessed. So by herself with naught but a couple friends and a midwife she brought their son into the world calmly and confidently.
I often wonder if Crystal ever questioned God as to why he brought her son into the world only a couple weeks before her husbands return. I wonder if she said "God I know you have a purpose I just dont know what it is." Well I know that our wonderful father did MANY great things through that sweet boys birth, but one way he used it for sure was to speak to my own heart. I couldnt have imagined the heartbreak in my husband missing our child's birth or the terror in giving birth without him. But when I watched Crystal with such faith do it I knew God was showing me the kind of relationship I was missing. God was Crystals rock that night. He was her EVERYTHING.
While R and I were trying to conceive we often watched other parents. We quickly agreed that these parents were two that we definitely wanted to emulate. Their children were both so well behaved, smart, polite, and happy. They listened well and clearly knew about their parents faith in Christ. What always stuck out to me about Crystal and her husband was that they NEVER rose their voice to their children but always corrected unGodly behavior and always taught them in a positive way. They spent time with their kids and it was clear that after their relationship with God, their relationship with one another and their children took precedence over all other things in life.
I know God put this woman in my life to be a mentor and role model, though she probably never knew it. Through her, God has shown me what it looks like to put Him first, to be a Christian wife, mother, and friend, to be a witness with my life, to be humble, to be selfless, and to be honest.
My own mother exemplifies all of these things as well and I am so lucky that I was raised by such a Godly woman. I know what it's like to be the child of a woman like that and Im so blessed that God gave me to her. I think he put Crystal in my life is well to remind me of the kind of woman my own mother was to us as children and is to this day. I get to see Crystal do the same things Im doing at the same time and remember the lessons my own mom taught me. God has set up a path for me to follow in becoming the woman, wife, and mother of Faith that he has intended for me to be.
I wrote this blog for two reasons: 1 because I hope other people are as inspired by Crystals life and relationship with God as I am, 2: in hopes that it will let her know just how strongly God uses her even if she doesnt know it. Being a stay at home mother can be a thankless job, it can often make you feel like you arent doing "enough" for the kingdom of God or for your friends. So I really felt it pressed on my heart to bring to light how much this sweet woman has meant to me and how drastically she's changed my life. My relationship with God has gotten so much sweeter since he brought her into my life and he used her to shape how I was to raise my children. I only hope that one day Christ can use my life to inspire someone else the way Crystal has inspired me.
Always tell the people whove had an impact on your life just how much they mean to you. Crystal girl, I love and miss you and thank God for introducing us!
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