thank you

About 3000 years ago, someone wrote that, “as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” I think there is a lot of truth in that proverb, and I am profoundly thankful for the people in my life, because you have refined away my edges, whittled away my pride, and loved me in ways that I don’t deserve. So thank you.

Thank you school friends. Esp Jayde, Em and Martha - I recently read through some of my journal entries from when I was younger, and I just really want to firstly, apologise, and secondly, thank you for still being my friends then and now.

Thanks uni friends, for making class tolerable, for fueling my coffee addiction, and for challenging me in my thinking – you’ve taught me how to have robust arguments, and still love one another.

Thanks to my Christian family, who by the precious blood of Jesus I can call my siblings. You are a joy.

Most of all, to Mum, Dad, Tom and Andrew. For bearing with my selfishness and petulance. For loving me in ways that I need to be loved, even when I make it difficult for you. For all the fun, banter, inappropriate jokes, and laughter; particularly on family holidays – whether in the Simpson, at Byron or in Italy. For your generosity in time and resources. For just being the best. I hope and pray that we be good friends, always.

And finally. There are no words to thank this last person. But I’ll give it a shot.

You loved me even before I liked you, in fact, when I hated you; you are faithful when I am flaky, unreliable and distant; you see through my facades and pretences; you comfort me when no one else understands; you lift my eyes when I get bogged down; you fill my heart with an unspeakable joy; your love never fails, and you are always true to your word. You settle my nerves and when I’m with you, I have a peace that outweighs even the most distressing situation; you are passionate about me, for reasons that I don’t understand, to be honest, and you fight for me; you quiet my striving heart with the most beautiful and gentle songs; you speak the words I need to hear; you have brought me into the most amazing story that will ever be told; and you have bound me to yourself with a promise that you will fix everything that has been broken – including me. You are the light in my darkness, the joy in my sadness, the truth in my wandering, and for that, for the hope, love and joy you have given me, for giving me yourself – my Lord and my God, Jesus, thank you. I long for the day when you’ll return in glorious majesty, and I can see you face to face.