I was introduced to Claudia at the end of my first week of high school. She was the cool college student assigned to lead our freshman Bible study. She was really pretty and spiritual and I was really intimidated.
That ended our first meeting, though, because she made it so clear that she was so excited to be leading our group. For the rest of my life, I will conduct my first meeting of any youth Bible study exactly like Claudia did (and I have, in fact, had this exact conversation with girls in Maryland and in Wheaton).
She told us that she was far from perfect and would definitely make mistakes, but that she loved God and wanted to help us know Him better in any way she could.
She told us that we were her priority. That she wanted to be a part of our lives, and she wanted us to be involved in hers. And she really, really meant it.
If she and her (cool, older, college friends) were having a party, we were invited. We slept over her house and painted each other's bedrooms and played Mafia and she came to our sports games and dance recitals. I had been a Christian for about a year at that point- chock full of scary questions about God, and the comfort I felt with her from our hanging out made her completely accessible on spiritual matters.
Spring retreat, freshman year
As our friendship deepened, she became not just a mentor, but one of my closest friends.
At my graduation party
At the beach with friends last summer
I was so blessed to see her relationship with Brian from its beginning (they were 18 and 19!) to their engagement and MARRIAGE. The three of us took a road trip to South Carolina to do a college visit my senior year and their chemistry of love-and-ridiculousness was so much fun to be around.
At the Outer Banks on senior week (no, that's not beer in Bri's cup)
Husband and wife at last!
She is honest and wise, able to love people deeply through utter stupidity while never being afraid to inform them of how utterly stupid they're being. She is humble, quick to admit areas where she needs to grow and quick to praise God for His goodness and power. She encourages, nurtures, and cares for all who come into her path, from crazy co-workers, to special-needs friends, to our group of girls (who engaged in every variety of drama known to man over the four years she led us), to, now, her lucky husband.
The crazy wedding party. There's an unfortunate story to this one. Let's just say I think these particular photographers (who go to our church and are good friends) may start asking brides if Emily Goldberg is in their wedding party before they agree to take the job...
Me and the beautiful bride!
1 comment:
T6RA
Thanks for lunch this morning. It was good to talk to you, and even better to listen. You don't need to feel silly and you can always share those kinds of things even if you do.
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