I feel like every year I say this... and I don't know when my life will start getting some normalcy year to year, but I am not minding it one bit. But OH how much life can change in a year!
Christmas is tomorrow, well actually today since I am up late, and it just doesn't feel like Christmas this year. My sister and her husband are stuck in Edmond due to this random blizzard, this house.. my Mom's dream house is up on the market, so there was no real need for a big tree. My Mom has her first job in over 25 years and has been working like crazy to help out when my family was going through some unfortunate financial situations. I thought I would be in Hawaii right now, but have been couch hopping and looking for a job in Dallas for the past 3 months. I have seen my family go through some of the roughest times we have seen, but God has taught us all so much and great things have been happening by his grace. I have an apartment in Uptown Dallas, my Dad got an amazing job at Baylor Healthcare in Dallas, my Mom will be back to Dallas soon, and my sister has graduated and is a teacher! This past year has taught me so much about family. It is a bond that cannot be broken. That is why when things aren't great, a part of your heart aches with pain. When even in the bad times, the strength of family can overcome anything. That prayer and emotional support is a two way road with every member. That victories are best shared with family. To feel loved unconditionally is the best feeling I think a human could ever feel, and to know that God's love for me is so much more powerful, intimate, and eternal blows my mind and gives me a comfort I couldn't describe.
Talking about bills, car payments, school, and job searching tonight got me kind of down. I start to stress and get anxious. The fact that my sister is not here to wear our Christmas pj's to bed and wake up and open presents together makes me sad. But as I got into my comfy, cozy bed I just sit back and realize how silly and minuscule my worries and sadness are. That I am blessed beyond belief.
I am HEALTHY. I pray for those who are not. I pray for Matt Chandler and his family. What an impact on my life he has made, and so many others. May God be glorified in the highest through this time.
I have an amazing FAMILY. Movies this year like Precious, The Blind Side, and I Can Do Bad All By Myself, really put that in perspective. There are children out there born into physical, verbal, sexual, or emotional abuse. It breaks my heart the things that innocent children will endure and blessed I am to be graciously born into a loving, stable and supportive home.
I have fantastic FRIENDS. Being back in Dallas has been such a blessing in the people God has placed in my life. Old friendships that are golden and held so close to my heart. The fact that all growing up your parents say "you won't even talk to 10% of these people in 10 years", and 15-20 years later, I have friends that have really become my family. And for new friendships within the past year!! I have met some incredible people that I know will be life long friends, and it is not often someone can say that!
I am ALIVE. So many celebrities have died this year. Michael Jackson, Brittany Murphy, Farrah Fawcett, Patrick Swayze, DJ AM, Natasha Richardson, Billy Mays... this year has been a shock of all the young celebrity deaths, and it takes people a moment to realize "wow, life can be taken at any moment", but then forgotten soon thereafter. More personally I have had a dear friend pass away at 25, John Michael Gore. If we are still alive, there is a reason... I want to strive this year to live out that reason in honor of him.
True relection is something I think our society greatly misses out on. Everyone is so busy, running from activity to activity, our lives have been digitally taken over. Reflection like this is refreshing and I highly recommend to anyone that reads this. I spoke earlier of my pastor Matt Chandler, and the week before his seizure Matt did a sermon on the Sabbath that put what the Sabbath really means in a way I never looked at it and put a new light to how crucial rest, restoration and relection are to each of our well-being. Take some time this holiday season to have a yearly Sabbath. Rest in greatness and graciousness, count your blessings, and may you all have a very Merry Christmas.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment