April 5, 2011- Michael Puckett

MIKEY! I never could have imagined that our frienship would grow so much from the day we met and I caled you a pansy for not being able to climb back up on the bridge. Truly though, I am so thankful it has grown and for all the the Lord has in store for our friendship in the future. Strangley enough, I think I have only talked to Mickey a total of three times. The first being the day I met him last May, the second sometime in September on skype and the third being yesterday. There is no rhyme or reason for why we should be friends except for the common ground we have in the Lord and His love for each of us. 

Yesterday when I was talking to Mikey, every word out of his mouth was truly speaking to my heart and I cannot put into words how directly from Christ it was. He is such a light for his creator and truly allows the Lord to speak through him unfiltered, and purely to others. He made so many comments in the fourty-five minute conversation I got to have with him that struck my heart and will stick with me forever. If you know me, you know that I have an unusually tough time excepting encouragement or compliments because they make me unbelievably uncomfortable. I shy away from any sort of interaction that will result in that, and I am quick to change the subject if the conversation is headed in the direction of encouragement towards me. Mikey, however, won't let that happen. Every word he says is intended to build others up in the work the Lord is doing through them, and encouragement for others effortlessly flows through him. I cannot tell all the ways I have been unintentionally called out or beautifully encouraged by him the the few conversations we have had and it pains me not to be able to make up an excuse for why I have to go or just change the topic all together but even in the Mickey is constantly teachig me lessons.

The thing that has stuck with me the most from our conversations is the thing that has made me the most uncomfortable. Of course, being the selfish human I am, I take the compliments and encouragement other's give me and either build myself up or just brush it off because it makes me incredible aukward. Mikey opened my eyes to the idea that when others encourage me, it is not truly me at all. Everything I do or say that comes close to being worthy of encouragement is the Lord and when I shy away from those things, I am not allowing the Lord's work to be acknowledged. Mikey, thank you for being such an incredible man of God and allowing him to constantly speak and work through you. Know that you are impacting and changing lives more then you will ever fully realize and I am so blessed to know you. I love you forever.

Isaiah 52:7

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!"