Michelle’s story reminds us that when God places people in our lives, we should say yes. What began as a simple dinner invitation became a lifelong community of faith, friendship, and joy—a reminder that true delight is often found in saying “yes” to both God and one another.
Saying Yes to Community and Joy
When God places people in our lives, we should engage. That truth unfolds beautifully in Michelle’s story. Years ago, when her friend Angela invited her to “Monday Dinner” with the girls, Michelle could have easily brushed it off as another social gathering. But instead, she said yes. Looking back now, she can see that God was behind that simple invitation—using it to weave together threads of friendship, faith, and purpose that would shape her life for years to come.
That one “yes” opened the door to so much more. Through Monday Dinner, Michelle reconnected with Angela, met her best friend and travel companion Mari, found her home church through Holly at KCF, helped “raise” Camden, and discovered a circle of women who would become her hanai family—friends who have walked with her through life’s joys and sorrows, laughter and loss. It’s a reminder that God often does His deepest work in our lives through relationships, through community.
Michelle’s journey reflects a truth at the heart of Christian formation: we grow best together. Community is where we find belonging, encouragement, and love in its most tangible form. It’s where we learn to lean on others in hard seasons and to celebrate together in seasons of joy.
Being in community doesn’t mean we never value solitude. Michelle will tell you that time alone can be restorative and sacred. But even then, community remains essential. We were designed to be connected. As Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 reminds us,
“Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”
When we look back on life, many of our happiest moments—the laughter, the stories, the late-night conversations—will have one thing in common: we weren’t alone.
And then there’s the other side of Michelle’s story—her joy. She’s captivated by the energy and light of big cities, especially New York. It’s her “happy place,” a place that fills her with wonder and reminds her of the beauty and possibility in the world. Whether it’s strolling through Times Square, exploring the Amalfi Coast’s Positano, or surrounding herself with her favorite color—purple—Michelle lives with a joyful curiosity that radiates.
Her delight in life is contagious. It’s a reminder that joy is not an accident—it’s a choice. God created us to experience joy and to reflect His delight through the things that make our hearts come alive.
Through Michelle’s story, we see the intertwining of two divine invitations: one to community and one to joy. Say yes to both, and you may just find what she did—a life that’s not only full, but beautifully connected, vibrant, and alive.