It’s hard to believe that I am sitting in living room typing on a computer that I left at home 11 months ago. How quickly it all seemed to pass by looking back, but in the moment, I’ll be honest there were days where it seemed like the end would never happen.
And now that it has, I can look back and see how much I have grown, how much I have learned, and how deeply, deeply loved I am. Some of which, I wanted to share with all of you beautiful people.
1. Be You.
It seems pretty simply right? Be yourself. That’s what we’ve heard since we were in junior high, right? Well, its true. If you aren’t yourself, then how can you expect others to be who they are and be real with you. There is power in being the one true you. There is no one else like you in the whole world! Take pride and pleasure in that. Be you. Be bold. Be the you, you were created to be.
2. Be Vulnerable.
Alright, an overstated phrase but sadly it still has some good meaning to it. When you go to that vulnerable place with yourself and are honest about what has happened to you, what you’re feeling, GOOD things happen! Its scary, its usually messy, bring tissues, bring your journal, and heck! Maybe even bring that trusted teammate too. When you go to the deep depths of your heart, good things happen. When you let others in there too, even more amazingness happens. It allows you to trust others viewpoints and thoughtful words into your own life.
3. Don’t Quit.
This one, I am taking with me for the rest of my life. Remember Thailand? Well for me, it was not so awesome. But even in the midst of all the suckyness, God was still good. (Hey, there’s a blog on that if you’d like to read it!) If I had come home month six, I wouldn’t have been able to see the incredible things God had in store for me the next five months. I wouldn’t have stories to tell, have seen God work in ways I only dreamed, I wouldn’t have been able to learn some valuable lessons. Remember that when God calls you to something, He will qualify you. Always. God isn’t a God of broken promises, He’s a God who forever reigns true to what He tells us. So, don’t quit. Remember why God called you here in the first place, there’s a reason for every season.
4) You are Loved
Pause for one second. Look around you. Maybe you’re in a coffee shop. Maybe you’re in your office at work. Maybe you’re even reading this on your phone as you’re heading somewhere. Do you know how loved you are? Do you know how much I love you? Do you know how much your Papa loves you? He loves you so much. More than the stars in the bright Swazi sky that you can’t even count! He loves you. Not for what you do, or what you have done, or what you will do. He Loves You.
I want you to truly grasp this. Wherever you are in your life, whether you are about to embark on an adventure, whether your every day seems mundane; You are loved. You are cherished. You are wanted. There is always someone rooting for you to finish the race you are on. There is always someone who is proud of you, no matter what others say. You are loved.
Never forget how deeply loved you are. How cherished you are as the only you in this world. How many people are cheering for you to finish your race.
Until next time,
Peace and Prayers
