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Crystal Stine

Home / Everyday faith / The Gift of Community (a Link Up & a Giveaway!)

The Gift of Community (a Link Up & a Giveaway!)

Everyday faith

She told me to return the gift. It was too much. She wouldn’t take no for an answer.

I thought I was finally figuring out how to be a friend, to be part of a community. I thought I found someone I could trust, and I let her in to see the real me. Laughter, tears, joy, fear: all of it. I opened myself to this new friendship, so excited to see it blooming.


The night she told me to return the gift she also called me selfish. Said we should no longer be friends if I couldn’t see things her way. I was devastated. My heart began to harden toward community.  


Sweet friends, I have been hurt by community. More than once I’ve walked down the painful road of rejection. The kind that makes you want to pull the fuzzy covers over your head and eat double-stuffed mint Oreos. For a long time. By the grace of God, He refused to let me stay there.





Will you join me at (in)courage today to read the rest? And join the Link Up for a chance to win a beautiful Lisa Leonard necklace!

(in)RL is happening soon! Come join a few thousand of your closest sisters for a free online world-wide one day conference – find out more, here & be sure to register & find a meet up near you!

April 15, 2013 ·

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