I’ve been getting a lot of messages about relationships lately, in books I’m reading, classes, sermons, and other places.  I’m actually attending a fabulous women’s class right now that is for all the women at my church, on Wednesday nights, about connections.  We’re working to get to know other people and find reasons to connect with women of all ages, because we have things in common….we just have to figure out what they are!!

I have always felt a little guilty when I’ve had to answer the “hobbies/interests” question in any capacity.  I do love to read, but I’ve never taken up any kind of hobby.  I don’t sew, bowl, do yoga, scrapbook, knit, decorate…I am sure the list could go on.  I’ve just always felt like there was something a little wrong with me, because I didn’t have a hobby, some little “me” thing that I did just for myself that I enjoyed.

This week, I have come to the realization that I DO have a hobby.  My hobby is relationships.  I enjoy spending time with friends and family.  I love Facebook because it allows me to maintain relationships that I have lost over the years.  I enjoy knowing what is going on in people’s lives, seeing pictures of their families or their vacations.  I love getting together with people and just hanging out.  I would do a girl’s night out every week if  my friends could oblige me.  I truly enjoy talking on the phone (even if the one of us is shopping and all we’re talking about is kinds of juice), visiting with people after church, and anything else I can do to spend time with people I love.

John and Stasi Eldredge talk about relationships in their book, Captivating.  They say that one of the ways that God made women in His image is that we are relational to our core.  Relationships matter to women more than anything else…they are how we define ourselves.  God desires relationship with us, and we are made to desire relationships with others.  In fact, in Genesis 1 when God gave Adam and Eve their  mission as humans, each element of it – creating, exploring, nurturing – was meant to be done TOGETHER.

I know this is deeply true for me.  Relationships with people touch me in a very deep place.  They always have.  I no longer think there is something wrong with me for feeling that way.  It is one of the ways I look like God.  I’m proud to have it as my hobby.

“You’ve Got a Friend in Me” by Randy Newman