A year ago I wrote this for the woman that would be sitting in my place- heading into the last year of her 20's.
I truly hope you live this year with abandon - you love more, you give more, you hope more and you dream more. This life is truly yours for the taking and with God the sky is the limit. Don't be afraid to say what you feel, share with the people around you and love like you've never loved before.
Continue to put God first and He will direct your path, remember that as you grow older you have the blessed opportunity to spend another day on this earth sharing the love and joy you have found in Christ. Don't be afraid to be the light- be who you are and everyone will love you for it. Don't take life too seriously because you never know what's around the corner that might derail the best of plans. Love your friends and family and extend grace whenever possible.
But if you do nothing else in the next 365 days at least do this - LOVE those around you as much as you love yourself. The rest will fall into place.
Continue to put God first and He will direct your path, remember that as you grow older you have the blessed opportunity to spend another day on this earth sharing the love and joy you have found in Christ. Don't be afraid to be the light- be who you are and everyone will love you for it. Don't take life too seriously because you never know what's around the corner that might derail the best of plans. Love your friends and family and extend grace whenever possible.
But if you do nothing else in the next 365 days at least do this - LOVE those around you as much as you love yourself. The rest will fall into place.
Funny how much this would mean to me and how this tiny letter of sorts would become my mantra.
Don't take life too seriously because you never know what's around the corner that might derail the best of plans. - Not long after my birthday we had the amazing opportunity to travel to England and share the gospel with students in Coleford. At the end of the trip a tumble off my bike derailed some plans and I've spend the better part of the year recovering from them. But I'm thankful and able to say that today on my birthday I'm 6 months post surgery and I've got full range of motion back in my shoulder. So very thankful for that.
Continue to put God first and He will direct your path- In December an amazing opportunity was presented to me and for the second time in three years I moved again. I can honestly say that this job move was completely God- there is no reason other then Him of why I should be here. But I'm here and working everyday to show that the glory belongs to Him. Today is 4 months on the job and I know I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.
I can honestly say if I've learned anything in the past year it would be this: When you trust Him you end up on some crazy adventures. For instance you wake up a few weeks after your 25th birthday to a layoff and your dream house for sale.
You fast forward 4 years and this is my life. It's been a crazy adventure but somewhere along the way I realized that I can't imagine life without these people, that somehow if this life changing move hadn't happened there would be a hole where everyone from Texas was supposed to be.
I am a surrounded by love everyday, blessed with friends and family and coworkers that love me so very much. Even my birth mom texted me today to wish me a happy birthday. I sat there today thinking about her selfless love. How she decided 29 years ago that the best thing for me was to give me up, to give me life and give two strangers the chance to be parents. How is that for selfless love?
I have 365 days until the start of a new decade of life but before that happens I want to make sure that my life is full of love. The selfless love that is patient, gentle and humble. A love that will put others before myself for the greater good, that will go out of my way to make sure a friend is taken care. A love and a legacy that speaks volumes to the woman God has created me to be. That the lost 19 year old college student has turned into a mature and vibrant woman who loves God and His people with everything she's got. That's the kind of life I want.
❤️❤️ So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. (Colossians 3:12-14 MSG) ❤️❤️
