Hi Everyone!!!
So this morning I went about my typical routine. I rolled out of my 3 inch thick mattress that is comfortably nuzzled on the floor under our ceiling fan in the hopes to escape the 100 degree temperatures. I got dressed in my 1st of 3 outfits of the day because you sweat through clothes like no ones business here. Then I hopped on my bike to ride about a mile down the road to a quaint little coffee shop that offers the 2nd best blueberry smoothie (right behind Granny Dot’s) and the best/only airconditioning within 20 miles. So here I am. I have made this treacherous journey just so I could sit down and write a blog. Here goes.
This blog won’t be the typical “catch up” blog where I talk about all the things that are happening with me and my journey. I want to focus on you. So this blog will be a little different from most and it applies to ALL of you back home.
My team and I were having a discussion last week about coming on The Race. How The Lord led us here, the sacrifices we made to leave home and go out into the world and share who Jesus is to people. I think for me, I’ve got caught up in focusing on my own journey that I didn’t realize the journey my family and friends were on back home. The sacrifices they were making in their lives. The victories and valleys they were going through. I knew when I left home that I would miss out on things back home, but I was looking at it from my perspective, not theirs. This is what Holy Spirit put on my heart about it and I wanted to share it with all of you.
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Our yes is special because we don’t have to say it. I didn’t have to say yes to The Race but isn’t that true of anything we do for God’s glory? We don’t “have” to, we “get” to. It’s always a choice and what makes its so sweet is that we choose it. It’s not forced. It’s not an obligation. It’s as free as Jesus’ love for us.
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All “Yes’s” are equal. My yes to The Race is not any more significant than my families “yes” to taking care of my grandmother. It’s no different than your “yes” to buying a homeless person a sandwich. Your “yes” to picking a piece of trash off the sidewalk. Your “yes” to teaching children, or your “yes” to letting a friend confide in you. There are millions of beautiful “yes’s” that we say everyday that have The love of The Father attached to them. Is it always glamorous? No. Its messy, difficult, and tedious. Sometimes we aren’t affirmed or acknowledged for it by people or even the person we are helping. But we have to know before saying “yes” that other people may say “no” or maybe say nothing at all. But that doesn’t negate you, your blessing, or your obedience. We learn this from Jesus who sets the standard of standards when He says yes to us everyday in spite of our choices. He doesn’t need us, He wants us. We have to be reflections of Him.
Psalm 103 talks about the character of The Father. How much He loves us. How gentle and kind He is. When I read it, I can’t help but picture my earthly father. How much he has loved me for 25 years. How he doesn’t have to love me, but he does. He chooses me. He chose to coach my sports teams. He chose to teach me how to boogie board. He chose to show me how to rake leaves. He chose to skydive with me. He chose to teach me how to drive. He chose to take me to see countless movies. He chooses to check in on me. He chooses all these things. He chooses to support and love me and it has demonstrated the closest thing to my Heavenly Father’s love because my dad has demonstrated unconditional love for his daughter.
We love people like Jesus everyday. We say yes to people everyday. We may not know it or see it, but it’s there.
So as I’m about to enter into my 9th of 11 months of my Race, I can’t help but glance at home. What I will be coming home to. The next step. It’s a lot of unknown, but I know that The Lord has some big, amazing things in store for me and my loved ones but He also wants me to stay present here and now because He has so much to show me in these last few months!
As I close, I just want to say how extremely proud I am for the sacrifices you make for your families and friends. Your “yes’s” are so beautiful and know that The Father sees it, and He rejoices.
Thank you for the love and support over these last 8 months. I’m so honored to have you along for this ride, a ride that wouldn’t be possible without you. A ride that wouldn’t be as worth it if it was done without you. Until next time!
All my love,
Carsyn
