They weren’t kidding when they told us July is the hardest time for a northeast transplant to begin life in Texas. Texas is hotter than hot… a level of heat that I didn’t know existed. A month of days above 100 degrees is not the welcome we had in mind. But ready or not, we are here and our hearts are wide open for whatever God has for our little family. Before much time passes I wanted to share in the first 30 days how God is using Texas to change my Jersey heart. The first thing that leaves me in tears often is their kindness. Whenever I am feeling homesick or alone, I head to the grocery store. Seems like a silly thing to do but it never ceases to surprise me how Texans are so kind. Strangers hold strong confident eye contact and rarely pass you by without saying hello. I am learning to take time to really see people. In these everyday encounters I am blessed by the stranger that insists on allowing me to go first, the kind man at check out that pushes my cart to my car and loads my groceries or the neighbor that wants to talk in the aisle about her most recent answered prayer. When I lived in the midwest for a short time I encountered a smaller version of this but it felt showy and forced. In Texas, it feels deep rooted and genuine. The only way this makes sense in my mind is evidence of God as work in a community. This sent me on a quest to figure out what do Texans belief about God and who is the church in this new region? Everyone knows Christianity is sown into the fabric of this state but what you might not know is kindness and loving others is tangibly and consistently characteristics of their way of life, traits that are esteemed by Texans. People are quick to give encouragement and slow to criticize. They frown upon complaining and emphasize giving others grace. I will never forget my first street corner preacher experience. I have run into these individuals in big cities but never in a small town squares. As he stood tall to shout the Gospel to the people walking by, I noticed their reactions. They didn’t slouch away, walk faster, or look to their feet to avoid eye contact as I would expect. They smiled kindly with good eye contact, some lifted their cowboy hat and others exchanged “Amens”! It seems as through Sunday morning couldn’t come soon enough. Many businesses are closed out here in small town Texas, a true act of reverence and significantly helps us fast pace livers carve out a true Sabbath. Sunday morning in my church is full of people drinking sweet tea and raising their hands in worship. I have observed people resonate the most in a visible/audible way, to calls to praise God despite life circumstances and to seek out the lost with the message of the Gospel. I don’t quite understand the Texas church yet but one thing I can’t deny is their love for God and for people. I feel like it is already beginning to change me, to soften me. My sharp “Jersey” tongue always has something to say but here I am encouraged to control my tongue to find the good and to lift others up when I am tempted to criticize. I am still in my observation phase but I am amazed by all the ways I see Jesus in these small town Texan folks.