Today we went to the lantern festival in Chiang Mai, I was able to visit umbrella village and watch in awe as they painted umbrellas and see the beauty and talents God gifted them with. It was quiet and peaceful, but as the festival started, people crowded the streets, and walking across the bridge,which was once so easy, became nearly impossible. It was like being caught in the middle of a crowd at a concert, you don’t choose where you go, you move forward because that’s where the crowd is taking you. But there’s also people with fire to light their lanterns and fireworks. Next thing you know, a lanterns caught on fire and everyone screams and your pushed a different way. I became filled with anxiety from the lack of space and air, once we pushed through and got through the crowd, we turned and pushed through a different crowd. Kylie grabbed my hand and said, “Just look up, its beautiful.” And she was so right, the sky was glowing with lanterns. I watched lanterns catch fire, but this time they were beautiful, falling like shooting stars. And God asked me, “Is that not you?” And my answer will forever and always be “Yes.” I will forever and always be on fire for God. He reminded me that even when I feel like I’m breaking down and that everything around me is on fire, that it doesn’t change my worth, value, or beauty. It just gives me a new perspective once He has helped me through those situations. He is always making beauty from ashes.
