Secret Sisters

At the beginning of each year, the women in our church have the opportunity to sign up for Secret Sisters. This group of women commit to praying for each other and also giving gifts to each other throughout the year (once a month or so) for birthdays, anniversaries, or just because! They don't have to be anything expensive, just something thoughtful. We each filled out a form of our "favorites" to help out with this process! On the same form, we wrote about specific prayer needs in our lives.

Since Valentine's Day was Sunday, I noticed many bright-colored gift bags on the Secret Sisters table, full of hearts and pink with red gift paper. Very festive! One woman received some carnations, one of my girlfriends who showed me her gift received some fun "pampering" items like fingernail polish (red of course!) and other fun goodies. Since I associate chocolate with Valentine's day, and since my Secret Sister is diabetic, I found all the sugar-free chocolate and candy I could and put it in a gift bag. Fun stuff!

I did not notice a bag for me before the worship service, so I didn't really give it much more thought that morning as I walked past the table and headed towards the choir loft with the rest of the choir. We sang our worship songs, and then Bro. Stephen motioned for us to head towards our seats with the rest of the congregation as we do each Sunday. When I sat down, I noticed that Josh had picked up my bag from my Secret Sister, a very cute bag I might add. I admit that for a few moments, I did not pay attention to Bro. Jerry as he began to give his message!

I slowly opened the bag, and then pulled out a book. I read the title, and then began to feel tears fill my eyes. It was Devotions for a Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. Josh sort of looked at me funny, and I knew he didn't understand why I was tearing up. You see, on the form I filled out, my prayer request was for my marriage. It's not that we're not ok, it's just that I've found that since having children, and especially after Gabriel arrived, I feel like I have not "had time" to nurture my marriage. I asked that my Secret Sister would pray for me and Josh and that we would find time for each other and find ways to strengthen our marriage.

So I don't know who she is, and I'll have to wait almost a year until the "reveal" night. But I wish I could give her a hug and tell her thank you. That gift meant so much to me.