For those of you who don’t know me very well, let me share what makes up the life of Brittany. I was born and raised in a military family. Because both of my parents served in the Army, my family moved every few years. I had the opportunity to live in Japan when I was a toddler and spent most of my middle school/high school years in Germany. Being raised in a military community has taught me to make the best of any situation. I started college in Illinois and have worked in retail management up until a few months ago when I started working as an administrative assistant. I recently moved to Maryland to be closer to my family and am loving being closer to the shoreline. I find pure joy in working with children and have a passion for working with animals as well.
Before I started college, I had an acknowledgement of Jesus Christ. I knew who He was, what He did, but I hadn’t committed my life to Him. I was going to church and spending time with people who had a positive influence on my walk with Him, but didn’t make Him the center of my world. Maybe I didn’t want to make the commitment, maybe I didn’t understand the commitment. After graduating high school, I was accepted into a university close to home. I was very nervous about going to college. At this point in my life I couldn’t order my own food at a restaurant, couldn’t go anywhere alone, and had zero confidence in myself. My first night in my dorm room, I remember crying under my loft bed for hours after my mom and best friend left. I was completely overwhelmed and it wasn’t even the first day of school. I managed to make it through my classes, sitting in the last row, never making eye contact. I knew school was important and, at the time, was determined to make it a priority, no matter how uncomfortable I was.
A few months later I made friends and my focus shifted. Because I had such a hard time making friends, I made them my priority. I put my faith, time, and effort into people around me that would eventually unintentionally beat me down rather than build me up. It was more important to me to be involved in every activity in the present than to ensure I was doing the right thing for my future. I was trying to fill a void, just like many others in my situation, looking for someone to care, someone to lead and love me. I put my all into things that in the big picture, didn’t matter very much at all. I started skipping classes, stopped going home for visits, and never went to church. “I’m too busy for church” I told myself, “besides, there is no way I can go back to Him after all of this.” I wasn’t too busy. I simply wanted to chase worldly desires instead of a relationship with Christ.
Years later, after a continuous downward spiral away from God, I crawled home to my family. I was broken, exhausted, and defeated. They welcomed me with open arms and forgiveness. They paved my path back to our amazing, gracious, & reliant God. Though I still struggle with a lot of the same things I did years ago, I have a completely new way of thinking. My God wants me to come back to Him. He is gracious and forgiving and wants nothing more than for me to know Him. He accepts me as I am, leads me to be better than I was, and yearns for the relationship I have been craving. Jesus is thrilled to know I want His forgiveness and forgives, holding no grudge. So here I am, running with everything I have, towards the only One who can give me what I desire most. Sprinting towards the God I have been searching for to heal me and show me His plan for my life.
I cannot begin to describe my excitement for this adventure. God has called me to go way outside my comfort zone and serve with committed people on an amazing mission. I love a challenge and this is going to be just that. I am excited to show the hurting world how truly compassionate our God is. Come take this journey with me!
“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)
