The last few weeks have a had common theme threaded between them… perspective. When your perspective changes and you start to see things with a new lens, life begins to change. The things that used to seem like a struggle to deal with, become tiny bumps in the road and are immensely easier to overcome. You start to find a purpose in the things that seem mundane and start to become enjoyable again.
One thing that changed my attitude about something in my life was one morning during swim lessons. I really didn’t want to teach or be there or have to interact with people… it was just one of those days. All the kids started showing up and a little girl in my class gave me a dandelion. I was confused because we look at those and see weeds, and not as something beautiful. She did. Her dad said to me, with the confused look still on my face, “she thought it was pretty and wanted to give it to you”. My perspective changed and that little yellow dandelion was pretty to me because of the little girl that gave it to me. Her intentions were pure and selfless and it made me excited to be there, present and in the moment. The little things I do in my every day life actually matter, they have a purpose and I can’t let them escape. I was reminded of this today when she brought me another dandelion, I couldn’t let those moments pass because I will never get the time I invest back.
Another aspect of where my perspective is changing is with finances, in my life and for this trip. I had lunch with a friend who has been on the race before and he put it this way, “God is making it rain with money for this trip, it’s just taking a while for it to get here”. I laughed a little because thinking of God “making it rain” isn’t what I would think of when thinking of His provisions. He did have a good point though, God has it under control and it will get here. I can’t let the stress of not seeing it happen as quickly as I would like consume all of the other good things The Lord is doing in my life. About a week after I had lunch with him, the money started rolling in. Little by little, bit by bit, but it’s getting here.
Currently I have 6% of the funds I need to go on the race, which is about $1,030. That is amazing to me, people have been so generous with the gifts they have given me and that they have been praying for me. I would like to say that if you have been considering partnering with me, there is no better time than now. June 12th is the first of three deadlines we have to hit with our fundraising and by that date we should have $3,500 in our account. That is a little more than double what I have now, any little bit helps. For the month of May I want to challenge you to donate a dollar amount that corresponds with the day of the month ($3 on the third of the month, etc.), this takes something that seems like it may be too big to overcome and breaks it down into something that is possible for anyone. Thank you all for your love and support, it seriously gets me through the week.
-Haley
side note: On this day, 7 years ago I made a choice to follow Jesus for the rest of my life and get baptized and I can honestly say my life hasn’t been the same since. Another thing that can change your perspective about a day that can mean different things to different people, is the day that gave me new life.
