I so appreciate you sharing this part of your story here, Amber. Sometimes we underestimate those seemingly lesser differences from an outside view, but differences in culture and religion can be just as challenging to navigate as differences in race. I’ve been amazed through the years how sometimes even the smallest things can end up being so big.

But your lesson of valuing the opportunities (and challenges) is worth it, yes? I’m thankful God keeps pointing out my blind spots to me, even though they’re sometimes painful to work through. It is one way he changes us for the better… Thanks, Amber.

“a little too close to home” — I wonder if that’s where God does his best work in us….

a little too close to home.

I hear you, Natalie; I know all about very long to-read lists myself. I’ll never finish mine. This book had actually been buried in that last for awhile. But this was just the right season for it so God leap-frogged it to the top of the list. Thankful that he is good like that!

Being the one ourselves who is different is definitely a great eye-opener. It’s in moments like those that I’ve discovered how I want hospitality to feel, and then I’m more apt to give it to somebody else when they feel like the different one. Thanks for bringing out this point, Mari-Anna. Excellent insight.

Replacing our fear with his grace…yes, I pray that for myself too, Dana. Beautiful.