life beyond the well…

Tag Archives: Friendship


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Thoughts about Jax

It’s been just over a month since Preacherman and I made the big move to Jacksonville, Florida.  And since we’ve been here, we’ve been busy bees; working, getting our house together, and trying to create a “new normal”.

We like Jacksonville.  Even though it’s Florida, it’s still “Southern”, so we’re still able to get sweet tea, and people still say “Ma’am” and “Sir”.  Since we are in North Florida, it doesn’t have the tropical look that Florida is known for (which is more common closer to the beach, and further South- like in Orlando or Miami).  The greenery makes it look not much different from North Carolina.

We chose to live “outside the city” but are technically still in Jacksonville.  Most places are about a 20 minute drive (Target, movie theater), but we do have a little stretch not far from us that has no shortage of grocery stores, fast food restaurants, Walgreens/CVS, and pretty much any other store that you could think of, which is especially helpful and convenient.

We are working hard and definitely being stretched by our new jobs.  It is a blessing that Preacherman and I have the opportunity to work in the same school.  When days get tough, meetings don’t go well, kids act crazy, parents act crazy,  you can’t access the internet to really find the information you need, it’s great to know that your best friend is just downstairs (or upstairs).  But more than that, it’s a blessing to work with young people and their families.  We consider it a privilege to be able to do so, and though we are being stretched, we know that there is always a greater purpose for any challenges that we may experience.

The people here are really nice.  On more than one occasion, we’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness and friendliness of strangers.  It definitely has helped to make this place feel more like home.  We’re slowly finding our way, getting to know our coworkers more, and visiting churches as well.

Though we are enjoying our new life, there are things that we miss about North Carolina.  Some of those would be our family and friends, our church family, WTVD News, great restaurants such as Watts Grocery, The Q-Shack, and Bull City Burger…just to name a few.  However, the longer that we are here, the more confident we are in God’s plan for us in Jacksonville, and that helps us to manage any feelings of being homesick.  We look forward to having our family with us in Jacksonville for Thanksgiving, and for hosting others in our home as they are able to visit.  More than anything, we are overwhelmed at God’s love and purpose for us, and excited about having the opportunity to pursue it.

Until next time…

Be encouraged!  Peace and blessings!


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Those We Don’t Know

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” –Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

I recently started a new job, and have been working to meet students and their families, in addition to getting a good start on the massive amount of work that I have to do.  Preacherman and I work at the same school, so while students know me as “Mrs. Almond”, they also know me as “Mr. Almond’s wife”.

The other day, I was in the front office talking with one of our office assistants about a meeting that I was scheduled to have with a parent.  While there, I see one of Preacherman’s students who was signing in with her mother.  I smiled and greeted both of them, and the student smiled and waved back.  Her mother asked her who I was, to which the student replied, “Oh, that’s Mr. Almond’s wife, she works here too.”  The mother then replied, “Oh, I don’t know her”, and didn’t return my greeting or even continue to look in my direction.

I found this to be interesting and upsetting, mainly because I don’t believe that it is a requirement for me to know someone in order to return their politeness, or be polite in general.  But I also thought it was upsetting because of the example that it set for her daughter.  While I agree that we should teach our children to be wary of strangers, I also believe that we can teach them that we are kind and polite people.

However, this situation also made me reflect on how I treat people I don’t know.  This parent had no idea that I am the person who will be working with her and her daughter for the next few years to ensure that she gets into a good high school and a good college.  To the mother, I was just someone she didn’t know.  But how often have I just dismissed someone I didn’t know, who was actually appointed to help me get to the next level?  How often have I been less than kind, polite, or welcoming to someone who is new just because “I don’t know them”?

The truth is that it’s more often than I care to admit.  But, another harsh truth is that if we are going to be serious about doing the work of the Lord, we have to be mindful of how we treat others- whether we know them or not.  We are called to “love our neighbor we love ourselves“, and sometimes our neighbors are those we don’t know.  It doesn’t make them any less deserving to be shown the love of God and his kindness as others have shown to us.

Being in a new city, there are many people that I don’t know, and after this encounter, I feel especially challenged to demonstrate the love of God and his kindness in my interactions with those I don’t know- new coworkers, the cashier at Walmart, the family in the aisle with me at the grocery store.  If not me, then who?  If not now, then when?  More than ever people need to feel and see the love of God from and in others- and I want it to start with me.

Be encouraged!  Peace and blessings!

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” – Matthew 25: 35-40 (NIV)