Today begins the 8th week of my Button Journey. Eight weeks compared to a lifetime is not much, but for a super-plus size woman like me, eight consistent weeks of surrendering my food to the glory of God is significant. That’s eight weeks of tracking my food every day. Eight weeks of exercising consistently. Eight weeks of posting on my Facebook Page about how many buttons I earned…or did not earn. And eight weeks of receiving encouragement and cheer from my Button Buddies.

All journeys are more enjoyable when spent with friends, and my Button Journey is no exception. Truly God’s gift of friendship is special. Like Johnathan and David (1 Samuel 18:1), Paul and Onesiphorus (2 Timothy 1:16), and Ruth and Naomi(Ruth 1:16), God gives us key friendships to help us, nurture us, and keep us heading in the right direction.

So today, I want to share with you about my Button Buddies. They are very, very special to me. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would have sunk into discouragement and despair about my struggle to lose over 100 pounds were it not for my Button Buddies.

What I am hoping that you learn from this post is how vital the gift of friendship is. And how you can be a Button Buddy to those whom God has placed in your world. Your offering of encouragement and refreshing might come in the form a phone call or a coffee date. You may not be giving buttons or talking about weight loss, but if you will extend yourself and think of others, you will soon discover the joy of being a Button Buddy.

Button Buddies

The greatest quality of a Button Buddy is that they are intentional about encouragement. They look for ways to uplift, to add sunshine, to brighten another’s perspective. Button Buddies rejuvenate. They inspire. They champion another’s cause. They are modern day Onesiphorus’s who refresh the lives of those around them. Some Button Buddies have just the right words to say at just the right time. Others demonstrate their Button Buddie-ness through acts of service. Still others transmit their love through attentiveness to the things that matter most to you.

The Acts of Service Button Buddy

Some of my Button Buddies show their love and support by their actions. Like my friends Sarah,Lynette, Lisa, and Kris. Each one of them quietly observed my journey to lose over 100 pounds and my attempt to stay motivated by giving myself a button for each pound lost. They didn’t say much, but each of them at God-appointed times during these last 8 weeks came up to me at church, and handed me a Button Gift from their heart. Their quiet, love filled gestures put balm on my struggling heart, and gave me the courage to keep trying.

The Encouraging Words Button Buddies

Some of my Button Buddies know just when to send me an encouraging text or have the perfect response to my Button Journey Facebook posts. Their words of affirmation and humor help me to take myself a little less seriously and build up my self-worth.

My friend Susan, is one of those kind of friends to me. She responds to my posts, and tells me that I should give myself a button for exercising 5 times that week, and to keep on keeping on, that even a one-pound weight loss is a victory. And my friends Tamara,Kelle, Pam, andBrianna write meaningful “you can do it” posts every time my Run Keeper app posts how much I’ve walked, and how many calories I’ve burned. And then there’s my friend Debbie who tells me over and over again that I am beautiful inside and out, and that my size doesn’t matter. Each of these friends, and so many others like them have consistently, and lovingly encourage me through their “LIKES” on my Button Journey Facebook posts.

Attentiveness Button Buddies

ome Button Buddies just make it their business to care about what you care about. My friends Stefania, Valarie and Tammy are these kind Button Buddies to me. They read my blog posts, and comment either on my website or privately. And they pray for me. Their attentiveness to what matters to me minister’s to me and I am very grateful for their friendship.

What Kind of Button Buddy Are You?

As you read and reflected on this post, did you see yourself? Did you find that you are more of Button Giver or a Button Receiver? Leave a comment and let’s talk about it.