My Perla

We drove out to the airport last night to pick up my dear sweet friend Perla, who flew in from Colorado Springs to spend Thanksgiving with us. I believe the plane was blown here as that arctic blast moved into the area. In fact, they landed 15 minutes early, but couldn't unload because there was a plane in their spot.

I haven't spent much time at this airport, so I was unsure where we were to meet the disembarking plane people, so I followed the crowd. I went to the point where they have signs that warn you if you go any farther an alarm would sound, and there I waited.

I found tears were forming and I couldn't put my finger on why. Granted, this was Perla, who had shared in and was huge part of my soup kitchen days. I hadn't seen her in 7 years, yet we usually talk once a year. So maybe I just missed her and was excited to see her again.

Then it hit me, Perla is part of God's success story in me. I had the bull by the horns when I ran Manna and Perla stood right beside me! Do you have someone in your life that made history with you? Then you have a Perla too.

As I look at her now, I see her hearing God as we speak. I admire how she has stood for what God has called her to and I know she is one in a million. 

Perla and I fed the hungry together for about 3 years. We laughed, cried and grew together because that was God's plan. I believe He still has something in mind for us even if I don't know what it is.

This year, I'm thankful for a God who has put people in my life that remind me that I'm not a failure, that I can do ministry, and that God is bigger than all the ones who say differently.