I cannot look at this picture without tearing up and being reminded of how generational and intentional God is.
Many moons ago I had the pleasure of serving as a Youth leader. I got to serve some pretty awesome kids and pour into their lives in a sort of mentor/mentee relationship. Joia was one of those kids.
Over the course of her high school years, I had the honor of serving as Joia’s leader. Whether it be small groups, Summer camps, or just every day life, Joia allowed me to speak into and pray over her numerous times. I had a front row seat to the way in which she matured in her faith and as a young woman, and I have never NOT been proud of her.
Throughout the years as she’s grown up and into an adult, our relationship has evolved into one of more of a friendship than a mentor/mentee relationship. But even though our relationship has changed, two things have always remained constant with Joia: she has stayed planted in God’s house, and she has always served His people. She has never wavered.
And now, fast forward to today, my first born dumpling is now reaping the benefits of Joia’s faithfulness.
Today was D’s first day in Youth. (Check on ya girl, AKA Me, I am not okay. 😭) She is leaving on her very first missions trip this Tuesday, and the Youth team prayed over all of the kids who are going. The kids on the team got to go up to the leader who they wanted to pray over them, and guess who D made a bee line to? Joia. There were many of times that I had the pleasure of praying over Joia at that very same alter shown above. And now, today, she prayed over my baby girl at that alter.
I met Joia long before Danica was even a twinkle in Gabe and my eye, but God knew *then* how she would be a voice speaking into Danica’s life *now*, some 14 years later, and began intertwining our lives then.
Nothing He does is on accident.
To say I love Joia would be an understatement. As a Mamma, to know that my kiddos have someone like her to look up to and to speak into their lives, “thankful” does not even begin to express how that makes me feel.
Joia: Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for your obedience – even when it wasn’t easy. Thank you for showing up week after week filled up with who God is and ready to pour out His love on those kiddos. And most of all, thank you for loving my baby girl so well and being the face she wants to run to on her very first (official) day at Youth.
The Rodriguez Crew loves you SO much! 💙
MAMMA ARIANNA 