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Nov 1, 2021Liked by Jami Nato

Belonging… we all want to belong. And I’m sure we’ve all had the moment when we didn’t fit it, didn’t belong, felt unseen, felt unwanted. Recently I dropped Joy off for her first weekend away. When we walked in, lots of kids were sitting at different tables talking excitedly in anticipation about the weekend activities. Joy sat down at a table by herself. I cried as I left her that afternoon. This is happening more and more as she gets older. She had a great time at her school dance Thursday night. She said she saw this classmate and that class mate. “Who did you hang out with?”… By myself. I’m pretty sure it bothers me more than it bothers her. She is joy, thoughtful, kind, loving. It is a blessing to be her Mom and when she’s older, I hope I get to be her best friend. Until then, I’m committing to see the unseen. To make an active effort to the talk to the one standing on the outside. To value others and see them as God’s children and love them as He does.

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Nov 1, 2021Liked by Jami Nato

We left a church in 2015 and found a church full of all the “no no’s” from our former church. It felt uncomfortable and unfamiliar. A man noticed we always escaped before the ending song. He introduced himself once, and remembered us by name every week!

We felt loved, seen, and a sense of belonging. The Lord captivated our hearts at this place and lead us into our next chapter! We are getting ready as a family of 6 to move to France as missionaries. To find and love the unseen, messy, uncomfortable people, like us!

God is good!

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Nov 1, 2021Liked by Jami Nato

I wanted to find a prayer group to join as our church did not have one. So when I was with a group of moms one day (about 7 years ago) I asked if anyone had a prayer group. One of the moms invited me to come to the one at her church. The very first time I went she was so kind: met me at the door, walked with me inside, and introduced me to everyone attending. I have been going there ever since and have made some very special friends, including the friend who told me to come along. And she showed me how easy it is to invite someone in, so I have followed her example more than once. God is so very, very good!

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Thank you for this reminder that we can do small things that have big impact on welcoming others.

My story here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CV0JAZ-rE1V/?utm_medium=copy_link

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