Hey everyone, so I know I haven’t updated y’all since my last post but here’s the big news…… I got a Car! Thanks to my Mom and Dad for going through this crazy process with me. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It’s still hard to believe sometimes because 1. I still get a lil nervous driving and 2. Even though it was a goal of mine to finally have it it leaves me in awe. God truly considers the petitions of our hearts. Now drum roll please…….. It’s November!! My birth Month. In all honesty I haven’t thought much about my birthday this year ( I know Shocker). I just feel like how much more can I be blessed? Life is hard, and my heart truly bares the scars of that statement and yet I am content with my life. I’m getting to know myself even more and sometimes I shock myself at how the littlest things bring me joy. Today’s topic is very dear to me so get comfortable, grab some coffee or tea, and let’s chat for a bit.
I was wondering how I should start today’s topic and I found a perfect quote;
“Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other.”—Carol Saline
I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on my friendships and I’m not gonna lie, I ask God what in the world did I do to deserve these amazing women in my life? That quote said it perfectly, as chaotic as my world gets, time seems to stand still when I’m with my sisters. Now I must say that I was born into a family where there’s usually more men than women. Being the oldest and only girl, life teaches you to man up pretty quickly. I also wasn’t blessed with many girl cousins so most of my life I was used to guys being the majority in my life.
I grew up watching shows and movies on the type of sisterhood I wanted and two of my favorites are “Divine Secrets of the Yaya Sisterhood” and “Steel Magnolias,” the 1989 version. Whenever I have the chance to, I like to watch these, even though I usually end up being a puddle of tears, they just make me feel good. The friendship these women have with one another is one to admire and one I always wished I could have. In the first movie I mentioned the girls have a saying, whenever they’re doing something fun and crazy they yell YA-YA!
I will be 31 in 17 days, wait let me soak that in 31 wow some people feel like their lives are over at 30 but let me tell you it is just the beginning. So in my almost 31 years of life I have had some pretty awful friendships. I was so naive in thinking that the friends I had in elementary, middle, and high school were MY people. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized they were never truly my friends. I didn’t realize that I was a placeholder for when they weren’t able to hang out with their best friends. I always thought that they cared for me as much as I cared about them, I couldn’t have been more grateful that younger me was pretty naive that way.
I have a pretty unique group of friends now, who to me are my soul sisters. It took me going through some terrible friendships to appreciate and recognize when I came across these rare women. These women are truly amazing women of God who love me beyond comprehension. It is so true when you hear the quote “Birds of a feather flock together.” Growing up my momma would always say tell me who you walk with and I’ll tell you who you are.
This reminds me of a passage in the Bible when Jesus was betrayed and Peter was scared. When Peter was around a group of people in Matthew 26:69-74
Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”
And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who werethere, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”
And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”
Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”
You may ask “Janny, where are you going with this?” well let me tell you, even though this passage is sad because fear led Peter to deny Jesus in that moment this passage teaches me a lot. This passage shows me that Peter’s friendship with Jesus changed him, it changed the way he talked, the way he walked, and because of this he was easily recognized as a follower of Jesus. The marks of him walking with Jesus for those few years were clearly visible to others. As a follower of Christ that is what I want as well. That when people see me they can clearly see the marks of my Savior in the way I talk, walk, love, and forgive.
It brings me joy when people acknowledge my friendships with my sisters. When they say “man I can tell you and so and so are friends” because to me it is also an honor to bare the marks of my friendships with them. When I look at them I can’t help but imagine this is why Jesus needed HIS people. Not only did they break bread with Him but they also chose to spread the good news, and also suffered the consequences of leaving everything behind to become fishers of men.
The friendships I have right now were clearly formed by the hands of God. I see Him so clearly in the way they talk, walk, and pray. In the way that I can be completely vulnerable with them and they are comfortable to be vulnerable with me. In the way that when I feel stuck and lost they help me find my way and speak life into me. I know these are people chosen directly by God for me. My problems become theirs and vice versa, their sorrow becomes my own, we laugh and we also cry together. We hold ourselves accountable, especially when we react badly to certain situations and we talk it out, reflect and think of ways we could’ve handled it better, whether it be towards husbands, children, work, or church nothing is off the table.
I’m grateful for last minute Target and Walmart runs, for the texts of “what are you doing right now,” for FaceTime calls, To hotel getaways and hot tub soaks, to Monday night Dunkin chats, and “wanna get coffee” texts. To running and screaming kids as we bare our souls. Even when everyone is sick and catching kids throw up in your hands as you laugh at these “what the heck just happened?” Moments. To birthday trips, and chismecito time. And fangirling over BTS and dreaming of our South Korea trip.
Dancing in the middle of the street on our way to Ben and Jerrys. To our Cape Cod getaway where we had the bougiest weekend filled with Pasta, views, and French Pastries. To breakfast and Jesus talks. To putting on wetsuits for a Sharkdive in the smallest bathroom ever. To crying and laughing as we get our pedicures. To moments of “Guess what and sooooo hear me out.” To ugly cries at altar calls and holding each other as we weep.
To moments that are good, bad, and very ugly. I am grateful for these moments with these women that not only hold me accountable but push me for greater and better. We don’t have life figured out even though we hold ourselves up pretty well. We’re human, we cry, we ask why, we doubt, and we bleed. But going through life with them makes it so much worth it. We live to the fullest, cry the most, and laugh until we can’t anymore. And not only that but the best part is we truly pray for one another.
Life is hard, life is complicated but with God, Family, and my Ya-Yas I feel like I could handle anything. So here’s to my girls who make living One Day At A Time an adventure.
As always here’s a special quote;
“Some women pray for their daughters to marry good husbands. I pray that my girls will find girlfriends half as loyal and true as the Ya-Yas.”
― Rebecca Wells, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
My hope is that if I ever have a daughter she’s blessed with her own Ya-Yas, just as I have been blessed with mine.
To all who read this I truly hope you have your own Ya-Yas or Yo-Yos, or Ya-Yos, Life is hard to deal with on your own. It may take time but you’ll find them just as I’ve found mine.
Dedicated to my Ya-Yas who are faithful and true!
Until our next unpacking, have a great day my lovelies!
Love Always,
Janny Mari
One Day at A Time with Janny Mari 