It’s officially been 40 days that I’ve been back in the states and here are some things I’ve learned and experienced from being back:
- Life moves SO FAST here. Drivers are in a rush, the grocery cashier is flying through my items, my work feels like the middle of an airport with people running in all different directions around me.
- Life is also pretty slow for me currently, which is really hard. (Need to stay busy here) With few summer hours at work, and only evening shifts, my days are spent wondering what I can do to entertain myself. Dorm shopping? Hauling sisters around town? Cleaning the house? Netflix? Walk the dogs?
- Community is weird. Yes, I have wonderful friends and family, but where did my impromptu team worship go? The questions that were once so normal “What’s God teaching you?”, “can I pray for you?”, “how are you feeling spiritually? Emotionally? Physically?”, are few and far between.
- All things in moderation; I deserve nothing. Those chocolate chip cookies are only $2.99 and I know I have eggs at home to make them in 15 minutes but do I need them? My car is here why not go out shopping? I haven’t had new clothes in 9 months, but don’t I already have enough? Just because i haven’t had something in 9 months does not mean i deserve it. It’s hard to say no when everything feels like it’s right at your fingertips.
- You have to want it. Church on Sunday, good enough to last me all week! Nope, I’m drained by Tuesday, wondering where my enthusiasm went. It’s in Jesus. You have to desire a relationship with Him and be dedicated to growing that relationship so you don’t just coast through life. It takes discipline and waiting sometimes, but it’s so worth it.
In some ways, being home has been easier than I thought, and in other ways it has been much harder. But life isn’t rainbows and flowers all the time. You have to remember that there will be storms before rainbows, and winter before flowers. The best keys to the journey for me are to (1)continue running the race, (2) know that the victory has already been won, and (3) remain in the vine to bear and receive good fruit.
1 ~ 2 Timothy 4:7
2 ~ 1 Samuel 17:47
3 ~ John 15:4
Thanks for reading everyone! I hope to be a little more active on here for my last month at home before going to school! 🙂
Many Blessings,
Gracie J
