Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Pink Polka Dots of Iron


"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17

On the mission field in Costa Rica, God rained down pink polka dots of iron in my life. They have challenged me, sharpened me, even caused a few sparks for the sake of my character. Truly I am a better wife, mother, friend and daughter of the King because of their iron lives sharpening mine.

I made a bold decision, to omit the word 'goodbye' from my vocabulary. In finality, in harshness, in permanence, it never truly fits my needs. So, today it is evoked from the dictionary of my life.

I don't know how to say goodbye, and so I am proudly refusing to use the word, but the tears still come. Flowing from a heart of thankfulness to the dear women that have enabled me to grow and emit a sweet fragrant aroma of Him.

Blooming in His garden, He has cultivated sweet blossoms of friendship all around me. To say goodbye would mean to cut the stems, place them in a glass of water, and watch them fade and wither. The beauty of their friendship could never be confined to a vase, it will continue to flourish in the garden of my heart.

Pink polka dots of iron, I love you and I always will. And Lord, please keep raining polka dots of friendship in my life wherever you lead.
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50 comments:

Kelly L said...

Great post - followed you from Gentle Recovery. my dream is to be in the mission field one day - blessings to you.
Love,
Kelly
http://www.ivebecomemymother.com

Denise said...

May God gently bless your sweet, sweet heart. Asking Him to send many more pink polka dots of iron into your life.

TanyaLea said...

Indeed Sarah Dawn~
May you ALWAYS have sweet pink polka-dots of friendship WHEREVER He may lead you in life!!!

God bless you, my friend! <><

BIG Hugs,
~Tanya

Sharon Sloan said...

Those pink polka dots are treasures!

Pilar said...

I know how you feel. I don´t like goodbyes either and I also don´t know how to do them. still the ministry seems to be full of goodbyes and anymore seems natural, srill hard.
The blessing is that now, with email, cheap ways to talk in the phone, blog, facebook, messenger.... it is so easy to stay in touch.

Debbie Petras said...

I love how you describe friendship. I'm sure you are a wonderful friend to have. I'm looking forward to meeting you Sarah Dawn. I often find myself writing down your words in my journal because they are so profound to me. "The beauty of their friendship could never be confined to a vase, it will continue to flourish in the garden of my heart."

May you bloom where you are planted and may the Lord bless you friend.

Lori at JOY Unspeakable said...

The new season God has in store for you will certainly hold new very special friendships that you will rejoice over! And the great part is, you don't have to let go of the old friends...just keeping adding on! It's such a blessing as Jesus shows us one by one, all our sisters in Him!

Nellie's Cozy Place said...

Morning Sarah Dawn,
I remember how hard it was for me some 15 yrs. or so ago when my very
best friend moved away to Ga. - it
was gut wrenching and we just had to keep telling each other we were only a phone call away. Now there is email as well. My friend and I
are still great friends and when we are in contact we pick up right where we left off, and it as if we never left each other. She is the first person I want to call when something good or bad happens to me! Oh, I have made other friends, and they are precious and so will you, but you can never replace those really special
friends, but you really don't have to, for like you said they are always with you, if not in person, you carry them always in your heart!!
Will be praying for you hon,
How soon will you be leaving Costa
Rica???
Blessings, Nellie

Mich said...

I loved your title...

Friends are blessings for sure.

praying as you continue to prepare yourself and your family for changes ahead.

He & Me + 3 said...

What a beautiful group of ladies and friends that the Lord sent your way.
Good friends sent from the Lord are always a blessing.
Hugs,
Mimi

Andrea said...

What a beautiful post. May God continue to give you peace and solace in His plans for you.
Blessings
Andrea

KAT . . . said...

Sarah Dawn, you are gifted; you string words together beautifully, and not just words for words sake but you convey heart and we identify. Like Debbie -- The beauty of their friendship could never be confined to a vase, it will continue to flourish in the garden of my heart. -- leaped off the screen to me too. Thank you, Dear One. And no doubt ABBA has pink polka dots waiting, never to take the place of those you are leaving but just adding to the garden He is making for you.
Sweet, Sweet Blessings,
Kathie

Lorrie said...

God has so much in store with you...may he comfort you in the changes that are coming. I love pink pocka dots of iron....so cool!

Scrappy quilter said...

What a beautiful post. I pray you always have these pink pocka dots of iron.

Karen said...

Beautiful heartfelt post about your friends...just remember we never really say good-bye...just "until we meet again"....

Searching for God in the everyday said...

What a beautiful visual! Continuing to pray for you.
Cory =)

Unknown said...

Beautiful thoughts.
Keep Up the God Work.
Lori

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

Hi, Sarah! It's nice to meet you!!

My name is Kristen and I'm a missionary too! So I know what your talking about with good-byes. I don't do them well either. Most of the time I don't even say them. There are just too many in our lives!

Have a great day!

Tana said...

So Wonderful! I'm glad to see the Lord is blessing you so sweetly.

Debbie in CA : ) said...

Such a sweet way to express friendship . . . I, too, prefer posies in the garden to wilting fragments in a vase. What I can capture and hold inevitably falls to dust; what my Savior holds lives forever. Keep watering your garden, keep weeding, and tilling, and keeping that heart-soil fresh to receive the unexpected seed dropped from above, and you will find an abundance in your garden of friends wherever you go.

You are in my prayers during this time of transition. God bless you, sweet Sarah.

Heart2Heart said...

Sarah Dawn,

I love how eloquently you describe your friendship and your unwillingness to let Goodbye be your final words to these women who have made such a huge impact in your life.

I never say goodbye because we truly never know if we will met again.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Eileen Astels Watson said...

Sarah, thanks for 'slashing' around on my blog. You're welcome any time. I look forward to getting to know you and your missions work more through your blog too!

Tracy said...

Hi Sarah Dawn! Once again, your words have been moving and profound! I'm sure it will be very difficult to leave the place and people you've come to love so much. And I won't say anything to attempt to make you feel better, you probably know all that anyway. But I am looking forward to seeing where this new journey will take you. We'll have to connect through email since you'll be in AZ soon! Blessings, my friend!

Jessica Nelson said...

Your kiddos are adorable.:-) I love the look of your blog! Beautiful post.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today. :-)

Jeanette Levellie said...

Sarah Dawn:
How profound and wise. I am so elated that Heaven holds no goodbyes, only hellos. You framed this thought eloquently with your post today.

Thanks for popping into my blog today; your comments encouraged me.

I love that you have the meaning of your family member's names. We need your name's meaning up there, too!

Blessings on your service for the King of Kings,
Jen
Audience of ONE

Waitingfaithfully said...

Oh Sarah Dawn, Praying for you as you prepare to leave Costa Rica obediantly, to go once again to the place the Lord has called you to.

Rejoicing with you in the bond you now share with your pink polka dots of iron. A bond of precious Christian sisterhood, where it's never a goodbye . . . . . but a "see you later", knowing that in eternity you will all splash together once again! Praying that even before you go, the Lord has prepared a new garden full of blossoms, just waiting for you to join them.

Sarah Dawn, your words are touching many hearts. Your physical surroundings are about to change, but there is great work here that the Lord is doing at Splashin' Glory--and it will remain . . . and grow, no matter where you are! You are helping many sisters become pink polka dots of iron, and it is truly sweet!

Blessings as you leave Costa Rica, may the Lord comfort the hearts of your family, and of those you leave behind. I'm looking forward to what He has in store for Sarah Dawn.

Love,

Tina~ in Texas

Jennifer said...

We didn't say the "g" word either when we moved recently. We said "see you later" and like one of my good friends reminded me, we get to hang out in heaven for eternity some day. This time apart, though hard, is just a blip.
Praying for many more pink polka dots of iron in your life. And mine as well. :)

Jen said...

Sarah Dawn,

So true! There are no goodbyes in the kingdom of God. I am also thankful for every one of the women who have sharpened me and allowed me to sharpen them. Our paths intertwine, like vines growing from the same Source.

Praying for you as you move on to new mission fields!

Blessings for your day, my friend!

Jenn

RCUBEs said...

"Blooming in His garden, He has cultivated sweet blossoms of friendship all around me. To say goodbye would mean to cut the stems, place them in a glass of water, and watch them fade and wither. The beauty of their friendship could never be confined to a vase, it will continue to flourish in the garden of my heart." - What a beautiful way of describing His gift of friendship that He bestowed on you.

And it's not the stem or leaf or flower that will make it thrive, but the ROOT. And to know that your friendship is rooted in Him, you just know, it will never die. Blessings to you.

Sarah said...

Sweet friend and sister,

Praying for you as your grieve your losses. Even though this leaving is only temporary (for you will be together in eternity!), my heart aches for you. True friendship is such a gift from the Lord! Praying that you will find many pink polka dots of iron in AZ.

Blessings to you, preious one.
Sarah

Roxane B. Salonen said...

I am honored that you splashed around in my blog, Peace Garden Mama, today. I, too, love meeting other kindred spirits, and will have to peek in now and again here. From what I've seen, you have a lovely blog and a big heart. Blessings!

Elizabeth Dianne said...

Saying goodbye has always been so hard for me just as "goodbye hugs" are hard for me to give. So I try to get lots of hugs in "during the blooming season" and then kinda ignore the goodbyes and the goodbye hugs. I loved your post and pray that these friendships will continue to grow for His sake.

Bekah said...

What a joy to find your blog after you visited mine! I have enjoyed reading through your journey and reading your heart for the Lord!

Cynthia said...

The beauty of your writing makes me sigh

But the beauty of your heart is a source of joy

God will be very close to you as you move on to the next part of your adventure in Him!

dawn said...

I hate goodbyes as well...always get so teary. Wish I could skip them...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Visit again soon. It sounds like you are on an adventure. I pray that wherever God is leading you--he is preparing hearts to receive you in friendship so you can sharpen each other.

Great post.

Oh Dear said...

So nice to meet you. I used to call my Pink Poka Dots of Iron my underwires. Now I see them more as my cheerleaders, my Hurs! I like the idea of not saying the G word esp. to those who I will spend eternity with.

The Sheppard Bunch said...

Nice to meet you as well! I bet Costa Rica is beautiful! How long have you been missionaries there?

Maria said...

What beauty there is in friendship...
What a wonderful testimony of love and caring ~ Maria

Charlotte said...

Friends some are silver and others gold, but it's all those tarnish copper pennies that we have to hold close to our hearts.

Sweet post!

christy rose said...

Friends are friends forever! Right?!
The mark they leave on our hearts will never cease to be. Praying that God continues to bless you with pink polka dots of iron when you get to Arizona.

Daveda said...

So beautiful Sarah Dawn, that God has blessed you with these wonderful friendships. True friends last forever, in spite of time or distance. I pray that everywhere you go there will be another polka dot added to your heart!

The Byrd's Nest said...

Yes...I don't use the word "goodbye" either. Much to sad and final! Chao es bueno! lol

It was so wonderful to finally meet you in person and to hug your neck! I will be praying for your transition to your new home and your new family that God is planning for you. I cannot wait to continue to be a prayer partner for your family.

Kimmie said...

(((hug)))

Kimmie

Becka said...

What a sweet post!:)

Thanks for dropping by my blog,
you come by anytime you like,
I will be posting fall pic's alot for MsNina at portugal Bound & now for you too.

nice to meet you !!!!

LV said...

What a wonderful, moving post. You have a great way of using words to make a point. May you continue to be blessed, and keep sharing beautiful thoughts with all.

Crown of Beauty said...

Dear Sarah Dawn,

This post brought tears to my heart. I felt your heart in every word you wrote.

I've visited your blog a few times before, and also left a comment at least once...

So I do appreciate your coming over today to visit my blog, and also for letting me know you dropped by through your kind comment.

Been wanting to put you on my blog roll, and was just waiting to start a blog friendship with you.

Praise God for the rain that He causes to fall on cyberspace through your blog.

You are indeed a ray of hope, a splash of joy.

May God's comfort be on you as you bid "goodbye" to a land and people you have come to love.

As one of my favorite songs goes, "Friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them."

I'll keep you in my prayers, remembering that you undergoing transition even as the fall season comes into the western hemisphere of our globe.

Love,
Lidj

Manda said...

Good - bye has a always been an awful word. When I think of it, I think of someone dying. However, it is not really good - bye, but a promise to wait in God's Glory until we can met again in His Kingdom.
Keep up the site,
LA

Tea with Tiffany said...

I see polka dots of love all over you.

Tea with Tiffany said...

I see polka dots of love all over you.

Anonymous said...

As always, Sarah Dawn, a story of your life very beautifully written.
♥Hope