Little Big things I’ve learned So far on The World Race…
WORDS– What I say matters. Whether it is to build someone up or tell them they are awesome, I can speak life into a person! I can change a girl’s view about herself when I tell her she is beautiful even if her face is covered with scars. Just the same, I can care for a child’s heart by telling him or her that they are loved by our Father in Heaven when they may not have a father. I can speak life and love. Calling someone into greatness can be that one thing that steers them towards hope.
LOVE– I never knew what love meant. I mean, sure. I love my mom and dad and my family…. But what does that mean? All the verses in the Bible about “love one another deeply…” “Love your neighbor as yourself” I wasn’t sure how and I surely didn’t trust them enough to pour myself out onto them. I didn’t give them the benefit of the doubt that they wouldn’t take me and spit me out like a cold fire.
TRUST– There are 2 objects of trust in this action verb:
- Is to trust God.
- Is to trust others and what they say is true.
Not sure why, but I used to think people lied to me. How could I accuse someone of lying? Because it wasn’t about what they said…. It was about me not believing what they said.
Have you ever thought these thoughts?
Person: “You are beautiful”
Me: “They are just saying that”
Person: “We love you”
Me: “They don’t mean that”
Or,
Person: “We want to help you”
Me: “They don’t really…”
I have a conscious decision everyday to believe others say when they tell me the truth. And I am!
WORTH- This is something I’m still trying to grasp. My [amazing] squad leader Billy Swan came to visit our teams. We had a good one-on-one discussion over lunch one day and he asked me some thought-provoking questions.
Billy: “Let me ask you a question… Do you think you are worth it?”
Worth what? I thought.
I said the first thing that came to my mind.
“No…”
Billy looked at me for a long time nodding his head slowly.
Then I began to feel the pain, and tears began to well up inside of me.
(It’s one thing to know something and to never say it. It’s different when you say it out loud.)
After a while Billy told me:
“I think you are”.
I recognized this as one of those moments when I have the choice:
whether to believe it or not.
“Thanks Billy” I said…
I’m slowly beginning to realize that too…I am worth it.
To my outstanding initial Squad Leaders:
None of this could have been possible without you continually and constantly lifting me up and seeing greatness in me and our team even from the very beginning. You continued to press into me and still tell us the truth. Thank You and much Honor to what you have sacrificed for W squad. Our lives are changed because of you!
Billy: I can’t explain how our friendship grew tremendously within a few weeks but I’m so glad it did…Thank you for your belief in me. I’m going to miss you.
Katie: You have such a sweet heart and love for everyone you meet. You have helped me grow so much. Thank you for being there!
Cristie: You are an amazing friend. You speak life into me, you believe and fight for me… I appreciate you. Thank you for pouring out your heart onto our squad and our team. You don’t know how much you have done for us!
It’s hard to say goodbye, and I’m going to miss you a ton. Thank you for everything.
I love you guys!
Thank you everyone for your amazing support and prayer for me. They are working. If you feel lead… I still need about $4,500 by January 1st to continue on to South Africa. God is doing amazing things in me and through me and I don’t want to go home! Please email me if you want to help me.
(My team and I Watching Shooting Stars in Romania in about 30 degree night weather)
