Tuesday Tribe

I have always been blessed with a tribe. Though it may have changed over the years. I have always had a tribe a friends surrounding me.

The end of last school year, I was asked by one of my parents to join a mom’s prayer group for the summer. And though I said yes. Made the commitment. I wanted to back out. I did not want to be in a place of vulnerability. I was already feeling raw and bare. Exposed to the world.

I knew a few of the moms. In fact. They had been moms in my classroom that year. And even though that class and those families and those moms. They were part of a special, maybe even magical year unlike any I had ever had in my 20 years of teaching. I did not know if I could meet. Once a week. And share my heart and hurts and struggles.

But since I do not back out of commitments. I showed up that Tuesday morning. And almost every Tuesday thereafter. Throughout the summer. Sitting. Listening. Smiling. Tears falling as we prayed. But never sharing or praying.

Yet every week. Peace overwhelmed me. Sitting there with these women. And I could breathe. Like coming up out of the water. After being held under. Gasping for air and quietly, slowing calming. For that hour or two.

Then. One Tuesday. I shared. And prayed. And these women, some who I hardly knew, others who only knew me as their daughter’s teacher. Became part of my tribe.

We started calling ourselves the “Tuesday Tribe”. Texting prayers and encouragement. Walking through daily life together. And once the school year started, though the Tuesday prayer group ended, we began something new. Texts reminding each of other of school activities. Meeting for dinners and talks. Popping into classrooms for hugs and talks.

So this Tribe. This Tuesday Tribe. I never knew how much I needed them. And because of them, I learned. There are all different kinds of tribes. God brings different people in our lives. Each with a different purpose. For us and for them. And when we have the opportunity to connect. To open up ourselves to a new tribe. As scary as it may seem. It may be that blessing. That lifeline. You’ve been praying for.