Tuesday @ Ten - BELONG

Another week is here; and another opportunity to link up with my friend, Karen, for this weekly prompted post.  Hope to see you there, too!  And, be sure to check out Karen's Facebook group for the Tuesday @ Ten followers here.



This week's word is Belong:

Growing up in a loving family, I knew where I belonged!

There are many who grow up in different types of family - or perhaps even with no family.

But, there are more people around us than just our family.

In school, sometimes it's hard to "fit in"; to belong.  And, many times, I felt as if I did not belong anywhere...

I wasn't in the "popular" group.  I wasn't in the "athletic" group.  I wasn't in the "academic" group.  I wasn't even in the "talented" group.

But, I was in my group!  I was in a group of friends that connected...a group where I could belong!  Perhaps we were neighbors; or we met and connected in one of our classes.  But, however we connected, we had fun together, whether a group having a party or a get-together, or just 2 or 3 of us.

I was brought up in the church; but we moved around a lot because of my father's military service.  So, I wasn't one who "grew up" in that church (whichever church we happened to be attending).

Even as an adult, I did not always feel as if I belonged to the church.  But, eventually, I did fit in!  I became part of the choir; I became part of the Christian Women's Fellowship.  I became part of the Sunday School class.

And later, when the time was right, I became a leader in the church; I became our group's leader.  I taught Sunday School!  I even led the church in worship as an Elder during a time when our church was without a minister.

I had a place where I belonged!

There were also times in my career that I felt I didn't belong.  Sometimes it's hard to have friends in the work place; and it's come to "bite me in the butt" at times!

Friends - or those I thought were friends - turned against me when it was more beneficial to them.  But I was able to find friends among those I worked with.

When you are with people so many hours of the day and week, it's hard not to connect and have friends.  But, I found the places I could fit in; the people I could connect with and hang with; and those I could trust.

Found on Pinterest

Shared by flaviosiqueira.com

Now that I am retired, it's probably even harder to find a place to belong.  My former friends are still working; so we have to "schedule" our special times together - like, celebrating our Christmas in February!

And, though we still connect, it's just not always in the same ways.

Thankfully, before I even retired, I found a place where I can belong - through my love of scrapbooking and crafting.

I have connected with a number of wonderful women who also love to craft.  And, we have connected on another level through that crafting.  I {still} belong!

A few years ago I found another place where I can belong - through the online art of blogging!  I have connected with so many wonderful writers through a number of links and blogs, beginning with a challenge called "write 31 days", which I have completed the past two years in a row during the months of October.

I don't really dwell on whether I belong or I don't belong.  I know that I do belong!

And when I do think about it, I know that no matter where else  I may or may not belong, I will always belong to The One; and He will make sure the people I need to connect with are there, right where they need to be!

Yes, perhaps there have been "belonging" challenges throughout my life...but I have learned where I belong and to whom I belong.

Praying you know, too!

Found on Pinterest

Shared by theodysseyonline.com

Thanks for joining me for this week's Tuesday @ Ten...see you next week!