The Race is still over every day I’ve woken up for the past 6 months. I’ve grieved the loss of so many things through the ending of the Race, not least of all intimate relationships, a sense of deep purpose and experiences too vast and hilarious for words. This Thanksgiving I was in need of some serious positive self-talk. Maybe you’re in need of some positive self-talk today too. I hope these reminders and thoughts encourage and inspire you as they have me this week. Take these thoughts sentence by sentence and let each one hit you individually.
About God….
God is not like any one person who has influenced my life. God always does what he says He will do. I can trust him. God’s not disappointed in me even when I’m depressed or believing lies. He is compassionate. He sees me with Jesus’ perfect record instead of mine. God has never dropped the ball with me. He has always provided just enough. He’s got more in store for me.
About relationships….
I can’t expect people to act differently than their nature simply because I treat them differently. I shouldn’t expect them to act differently because I’ve put new expectations on them either. Sometimes I choose to be disappointed when people don’t meet my expectations and at the end of the day, that’s still my choice. Choose to love people where they’re at regardless of whether it’s where you wish they were. Even if I call gifts and service my “love languages”, choosing to receive love from others ONLY through gifts and acts of service is essentially telling people that their value to me is defined by what they do. Learn to speak and receive love through other “love languages”. Love people for who they are and not what they do for me. I’d want the same.
About purpose….
I can be the start of something new through my life, my choices and Gods grace and power for change. Struggling with depression doesn’t make me a bad friend or a bad Christian. The only way I can fail at being a ____ is if I give up on being a ____. If I don’t quit I win. My purpose is not increased or decreased by relationship status. Don’t glorify doing over being and becoming. There is purpose in simply being. There is purpose in the journey that is life. There is enough purpose for me in being thankful. There is purpose and value in work even if the value is not reflected by the pay. I have enough and I get paid enough. Becoming an expert in something takes a lifetime.
Don’t give up! Keep trying. Happy Holidays friends.
