You know today is Thoughtful Tuesday. This week holds my date of birth and I will be turning 28! (I’m getting old!) So I decided to reflect on some areas in my life that I value the most. I don’t speak out much, but I am a deep thinker! There are many times I fail to speak up to let the ones I love know that I love them. I don’t want to miss that opportunity this week since many of them have helped me to reach this place in my life.
1. Family
Who could exist without acknowledging the family from which you hale? I am very blessed to have been adopted by a family who have given, sacrificed and unconditionally loved me for 28 years. I always loved to hear my Grandma Odom tell me about the first day they picked me up from MUSC in Charleston and she got to feed me my first bottle because my Granny passed it up saying I was “too small.” Or remembering crawling on the floor from my bedroom to my Granny’s room when I was younger so she could scratch my back. Definitely thought this morning as I was showing Savvy how to make my bed (I know – I’m weird!) that my DAD taught me that. I also remember that my dad said, “If someone is in front of you on the road then you’re losing.” My mom has shown me true sacrifice to serve people. She will give more than I could fathom giving to people. Then I’ll never forget Aunt Polly and Ron who led me to the Lord in August 1994. Not only do I think about the people who have impacted me, but I think about those in my family who I want to impact! Justin has been a huge encouragement to see follow in my footsteps to go through college and get his Bachelor’s degree and now a Master’s degree! I pray that Ruben, Cephas and Emmet will follow us!
Being adopted has not been an obstacle to me, but it has opened my heart to making my family bigger as I meet people who I connect with on a deeper level. I think about Kristy and Jody and how they asked me after only a couple of weeks knowing me to be their two son’s Godmother. I don’t know what that means whole-heartedly, but I agreed. They have been a joy to watch grow up. I don’t know why they love me so much because that season in my life when I met them was when I was off to college and never moved back home so distance can some times take a toll on relationships. I always enjoy hearing Jody preach for the glory of the Lord. Kristy tries to keep me grounded, but I give her a fit some times…thank God for unconditional love!
I would have to say that Jon and Lynette’s family has had the greatest impact on my life as I transitioned from college to life. I ended up staying in Charleston and working at CSU as most of you know. I started going to Summit Church after being in Jon’s Evangelism class during Maymester before I graduated. It wasn’t too long after attending that I connected with his children and then it was all over! They began to call me Aunt Tam before no time and before I knew it I was a member of the Davis family. (Not complaining!) 
I can’t really put in to words the godly relationship and transparency that Jon and Lynette have shown to me over the past 6 years. Jon and I struggled to work together at first but now we are a dynamic duo team working with the CSU Athletes. Words can never express the appreciation, respect and love I have for Lynette. She is now my mentor and I learn so many valuable lessons on how to serve the Lord.
2. Friends
This could go on all day! I’ve had my share of “friends!” I do have some people in my life who have been there through thick or thin and through ups and downs. I think back on people like Melissa who I met over 10 years ago and lost touch with, but we never missed a beat. We can be “jerks” to each other and yet love each other at the same time (right, Mel?). Or what about Kaye who has been my best friend since Junior year in high school and youth group. We both went in to college ministry on the campus we graduated from and now share the joys and pain of influencing college students. Of course, I couldn’t forget my girls Leslie and O-bi-don-dike from CSU. They always left everyone laughing and having a good time. Then I have even befriended some of the students I have been mentoring over the years like Savvy, Clair and Kelsey. I have learned so much about boundaries among friends, family and intimate relationships. Lastly, my brother Corey has been such a godly man for me to watch and learn that God’s best has not come along yet. I mean I could just begin now and mention names and some kind of story for how they impacted my life.
3. Love
I won’t lie – there are many days when I feel like I don’t know what love really is. I am still learning about God’s love. Some days I feel like I run out of love to give. I believe it runs out because I am not bathing myself in God’s love enough to have an overflow to give from. I have been shown so much love in my life yet I still feel like I don’t know how to receive it. Is this weird? Thank goodness for love though because I have a family who loves me, I have friends who serve me out of love, and I am growing closer to the Lord because of His love. Broken-hearts hinder your understanding of love. I recently came to the conclusion that I loved this guy and he was the only one I have “loved” in that way. The wounds can be healed with love, but love is a two way street. Which side of the street are you driving down?
4. God’s grace
This is one thing I have talked about before because I am still trying to grasp why we would ever be given an undeserved gift. I know it is a gift and I know that God chose to give it to us, but what kind of gift is it? How should you embrace it? When do you know who and when to give it to someone else? I keep praying that God’s grace will consume me so that I can be in love with Him and not just love him.
5. Talents/Gifts
Just like tonight as I was talking to Briston on the phone about PLACE results. I get excited when I get to talk to people about how God wired them and the gifting that He has given to HIS children! This is one thing that I believe is helpful for people who are putting together a team for work or service or communicating. The beauty of it all is that you discover that some of your natural responses or tendancies are not necessarily “pleasant” in your eyes, but its true life. The body of Christ is made up of many body ‘parts’ for a reason.
6. Influence
I have heard Jon talk about how he wishes someone would have told him some of the things about walking with the Lord and going to where the Lord is already at work. And one of the things have studied about millenials is that they trust and respect authority. So I try to assess my role on-campus and the passion that God has put in my heart to come to the conclusion that I am in a powerful place to impact people for God’s Kingdom directly and indirectly. I think about the people who have influenced my walk…Laura (she never gave up on me coming to youth group), Mrs. Sherry (always willing to pray me through), my granny (teaching me invaluable lessons), Mrs. Joyce (never let me give up). One of our “goals” in Student Life division is to ‘Love them all, Teach the many, Mentor the few!’ Who do you influence? How? Who has been important influences in your life?
So I am not sure this is something you care to read, but I had to get it off my chest. I don’t want people to feel like their words, deeds and service are overlooked. As I reflect on some key people who impacted my life and then some who I am still walking through life together with.
