We meet people all the time; everywhere we go, really. I met Mia at my granddaughter’s 2nd birthday party, over two years ago. She had recommended my daughter to take her position at work because she was moving out of state, and her precious little boy had been invited to the party. I had a nice, but brief, conversation with her; then, while she chased her son around the packed house, I ended up talking longer with her fun, outgoing husband. Shortly after, they moved away to chase their dreams, and that was that.

Or so I thought.

About 6 months later, I received a private message via Facebook. It was Mia, asking if I would consider chatting with her. She had some questions, and had prayed about who to talk to, and felt like it was supposed to be me. First of all, I was so honored and humbled that she would even think of me, a woman she didn’t know at all, save through Emmie, and my written word, but I was also very impressed that she had cleared it with Emmie before she had even asked me. I told her I’d be happy to listen, pray, and try to get answers to her questions, and thus began almost two years of sharing words via Facebook, Evernote and a single Skype session.

We covered a lot (A LOT) of ground. She honored me by trusting me with some of the deepest and most private parts of her heart, and as we walked together across that tender terrain, our love for each other grew and grew, until she became a daughter of my heart.

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to finally meet – really meet – in person for the first time, and it was Kingdom stuff.

Marvelous.

Eternal.

When God ushered His Son out of the majesty of heaven into the brokenness of earth, straight into a mean and humble stable, He laid His heart on the line to invest in ours. Mary and Joseph trusted His plan (that made no sense whatsoever, if you think about it) and invested in the baby that was their charge. And as that baby grew into a man, He spent all of His thirty-three years on earth investing in not only the masses, but also the individual, going the extra mile to pour into them, traversing that tender terrain.

Christmas is a unique time of year, affording us the opportunity to see people we don’t always see, and be more intentional with the ones we do. Take the risk to get involved, and go deeper. Invest in those around you, and I promise you will see a difference not only in their lives, but in the landscape of your own heart. It will be Kingdom stuff.

Marvelous.

Eternal.

A guaranteed return on your investment, which you won’t find anywhere else.

“Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” Luke 6:38 MSG