Grateful

They are the kind of people who would never expect recognition. They would never seek it. They certainly haven't gotten it nearly as much as they should.

But they deserve it.

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. 

Some of you may know Elliott and I have been living with some friends since partway through July. Their names are Brittany and Curtis McConnell, and they are our family, as all our close friends in Los Angeles have grown to be.

Some of you may know that living in LA is mad expensive, and making a living in the entertainment industry is not known for paying well unless you hit it big (or are extraordinarily blessed), and even then it can be up and down. In some ways, Elliott has hit it big, and we are excited. We are grateful. But financially, nothing has yet been "hit." Things have just mostly equalized out. Things aren't amazing, and they aren't bad. They just are. And we are grateful.

Therefore let us be grateful....

With that, we have been looking to save money to get into a better financial place and into a better living situation. We loved our old apartment, the only place we had ever lived in LA, but it just wasn't feasible long term. It was a studio, and families don't grow in studios. When we decided it was time to move, Britt and Curtis immediately -- no, really -- suggested we move in with them as an interim. I'm not even sure they discussed it first -- their generosity just erupted. We were hesitant to accept and "fought" the idea for some time. We have never had roommates before, and as a rule, I don't like to accept favors, charity, help, or gifts. Which is hilarious, considering gift giving is my love language. Irony.

So in the end we accepted, and moved in here, with this beautiful family. We got a lot of warnings: "Things are different when you live together." "Be careful." -- and questions: "How has it been?" "But really (leaning in), how has it been?"

My answer, without hesitation, is that it has been wonderful. Just wonderful. We have loved living with our friends, and it has been simple, easy, fun, and above all, a blessing.

Count your many blessings.

 
Elliott and I have had far fewer opportunities to be as generous -- or have we? -- as we would like to be, but I hope we have seized every opportunity we've come across. I'm sure we haven't. I aspire.

We've been living together six and a half weeks now, and our lives have been so busy it's felt like three. We will be sad to go when we do but happy to give their home, which they have so freely gifted out, back to them in its entirety.

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

But home is where your family is, isn't it? So I guess we'll never really leave.

What I mean to say is this -- thank you, our dear, dear friends. We appreciate you. We are grateful to you. We love you.

Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater....