#12 - Emily K

I'm having a pretty introverted week and I kind of thought it was time to come back to being thankful, so here we go again...

I spent a few minutes during third block today explaining iambic pentameter to Emily, specifically unstressed-stressed syllables. She was having a tough time understanding it, I could tell, but she was really, really trying, and finally you could just see how it clicked. I was like, woah, as insignificant as this little Shakspearian detail is, she's working her butt off for it. That's just who Emily is. She's the hardest worker I've ever seen, and not just at schoolwork although I think that worries her more than anything. From listening to her talk about swimming, or seeing how sad she was that she couldn't type up the prayer request, or even watching how she always stops herself before saying anything negative about anything but a movie or a paper or something, I'm repeatedly reminded of this girl's innncredibly admirable work ethic.

Throughout the second half of my seventh-grade year, Emily sent me emails, asked me questions, wrote me notes, or had me look up verses at least once a week. She knew I wasn't saved and she was willing to work to get me there. After I spent a summer learning about Jesus and getting to know him [looking back on that whole summer, it seems like one long retreat, honestly], I was throwing questions about Catholicsism vs. Christianity at her all the time and she was back to work. I didn't always get the answers I was looking for, but she always did everything she could. Even this year, when I haven't found anything to seriously question yet, she's always popping up to ask me how I'm doing on this fine day [though she [thankfully] words it differently].

I don't know if she ever stops working, whether it's working to keep friendships strong, get to know God, ace an essay, beat her best swim time, anything. But I wish I could do it. I get home and crash because I just can't make myself do homework right away. I skip devotions if it's past eleven and I'm pooooooped from the day. And plenty of people would say that's reasonable, but I can't imagine how different I would be if Emily would share some of her big talent with me :]. Heck, I can't imagine how different I would be if Dan hadn't been playing with her one day at the pool before kindergarden and we'd never met. Jesus is ultimately responsible for the relationship I have with Him right now, but if I had to make a list, "Lil' Kozy" would most definitely be in second.