The Gift of Connection

Honoring The Ones Who Saw Us Even When We Were Still Becoming

May 14, 2025 | Written byBelle Cruz

There is a sweet beauty in being truly seen— and still loved. In a world that often celebrates perfection, performance, and polished exteriors, it’s a rare and tender gift to be embraced in our most vulnerable becoming. That kind of connection? Invaluable.

Over the years, I’ve come to realize that the most meaningful relationships in my life haven’t always come in the packages I expected. While I’ve grown deeper in my faith, leaning into healing, identity, and purpose, it hasn’t always been the people who share my beliefs that have shared my heart.

Ironically, I’ve lost some friendships with people who called themselves Christian, but whose love felt conditional—tied to agreement, image, or silent conformity. I grieved those losses deeply. I questioned what community really meant. I wondered where I belonged.

But I want to be clear: not all my Christian friendships ended in disappointment. I’ve been deeply blessed by Godly connections—friends who carry the love of Christ so beautifully that just being near them feels like standing in the sunlight. They’ve wept with me, prayed over me, challenged me with grace, and reminded me of truth when I couldn’t see it for myself. They are the kind of people who reflect Jesus in Word and in heart.

And then, there are the unexpected faithful ones—friends who didn’t carry a Bible but carried me through some of my darkest nights. Friends who don’t share my beliefs but have shared my burdens. Friends who didn’t speak my language of faith, but who understood the language of compassion, loyalty, and unconditional support. They didn’t try to fix me or change me. They just stayed. And sometimes, staying is the most divine act of love.

These friends have shown me that real connection is forged in truth, not performance. In shared humanity, not just shared theology. In vulnerability, not perfection. And in safe relationships—where we are allowed to question, evolve, and be—we find glimpses of the kingdom of God.

In regard to all my connections, these people—Godly and not, whether life-long or seasonal—have shaped my heart. And I’ve learned that every genuine connection is a gift. Not every relationship will last forever, but some leave a permanent mark on your journey, even if only for a season. Some people come to teach you, bless you, or simply walk with you through a valley. And that matters. They matter.

I think we often underestimate how much we need one another. How healing it is to be met with kindness when we’re raw. How powerful it is to be held by someone who doesn’t flinch at our mess or mistake our softness for weakness. The right people don’t walk away when it gets uncomfortable. They lean in. They hold space. They remind us of who we are—especially when we’ve forgotten.

So today, I want to honor the gift of connection—in all its forms.

To the ones who’ve cheered for us in silence, picked up our pieces without asking for credit, or stayed when things got messy—thank you. Whether you knew it or not, you were a lifeline. You were God’s love in motion. And some of you are living proof that God’s love cannot be boxed in or narrowly defined.

And as we reflect on the people who have walked beside us, let’s also ask: What kind of friend have I been? Am I safe? Present? Faithful? Let’s not just long for connection—let’s be the kind of soul someone else can safely call home.

Because in the end, the greatest connections are not just about shared beliefs, but shared love. And real love—steady, unselfish, and kind—always reveals itself in time.