About 3 years ago when I turned 21, a good friend of mine gave me a sort of ‘book.’ It was written by her on index cards with only 4 or 5 words on each card. It doubled as a going away gift because I was about to leave on a mission trip to Ghana. I came across it the other day and some of the words are so so perfect for this journey that I am about to embark on. I wanted to share her words with all of you, and hope they are encouraging. I want to say these words to all of my team members.
“You are a treasure to me and it is my complete HONOR to have you as my friend. GREAT things are on your horizon, my dear. Incredible places. Amazing things. Spectacular people. So get ready!! This next year is a new season in your life. One that was planned out, and thoughtfully created before the foundations of the earth were laid. You were knit together for such a time as this. He carefully created each of your intricate parts, inside and out, and called you: Bonnie. Beautiful. Magnificent. Brilliant. Holy. Forgiven. Righteous. Revolutionary. Missionary. Lover of people. Angel to Africa. Blessed daughter. Beloved friend. Fearless. Strong. Daughter of the Most High King. Virtuous. Pure. Unique. Called and Committed. Free. Gifted. Brave. Courageous. Talented. Powerful. Adventurer. Dreamer. Life-giver. Smile-spreader 🙂 Freedom Fighter. You are an endless amount of delicate and vibrant pieces of heaven. I am so excited to watch you as you run this race He’s placed before you. So run, my dear. Run hard. Throw off everything that hinders everything that tries to entangle you. Run with perseverance. You are called to go further and farther than any standard set before you. You are called to handle the things of heaven with your hands.You are all together lovely. You are free. You must know truth and you must walk in it with all of your strength. Because the world is watching and waiting for the revelation of the children of the Most High God. You carry an image of God that this world is longing to see. Follow His voice and watch Him fight on your behalf. Love is your anthem. I see it in your eyes. He’s using you. An anointed vessel. Run out to meet Him on this adventure. To all that is yet to come and to all that is now, this is my toast to you: ‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves: who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us…it is in everyone…as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
-Maryann Williamson
