Literally read that quote ten times because it's so true and what I need right now.
I don't know what you perceive my life to be...Social media has changed a lot of things for all of us and one of those being the way we view other people...but let me speak straight with you for a second...
In case you think my life has been a beautiful bouquet of roses and other beautiful flowers, is it OK if I remind you that there are thorns on those roses too? The bouquet isn't just colorful flowers.
These days are hard. Experienced people say it will be this way for several years...
"Give yourself grace."
My internal calendar has been telling me to board a plane and go home because it's been three months in America. I absolutely LOVE snow. Always have. I expect to always love it in the future. (You all know that.) But the past few days have me dreaming of sunny days with blue skies in Asian cities. Eating spicy food from vendors, asking for directions with signs and wonders, smelling all sorts of interesting scents, and taking in all the beautiful scenery...
It's not that I want summer to come...I just want my life back. I want it to be the way it normally was. If I can't go home, I at least want to sit on a plane again...because that feels right. It's normal and has been for as long as I can remember...
But now we are here. In America. As much as I hate to admit it, we have a house here and it's supposed to be home. But it's not. The people here are different. They eat differently, talk differently, drive differently, and see life differently. The culture is different. I haven't figured it all out yet...Some people think I should fit in because of the way I look, but I don't. In fact, there are times when I wish I understood what's going on so I wouldn't look so stupid. At home, if I looked stupid, it was OK...because everyone knew I was different.
I guess different is the most common thing these days...maybe that's what normal looks like..? I'm not sure, though...
But as I picked up my book tonight and read this quote...
"The entirety of your life is made up of two percentages. Ten percent is what happens to you. Ninety percent is how you react to what happens."
...I knew that ninety percent needs to be adjusted. My attitude can be trashy towards the culture I'm supposed to fit into at times. Sure, life is now completely different from what it used to be, but the way I respond to culture, incidents, problems, and struggles shouldn't be different...Or maybe it's not. Maybe it is the same as it was before...Maybe I just need to work on my response to what happens...
There are things that hurt in life. Big Time! We can't change it. Just the way it is...but there's always something to learn in the struggle. The scars from those deep wounds will remind us of Who He is.
I've seen God in new ways in the past few months. He's literally become my Best Friend and Life Savor. For that I could never say thank You enough...This past year has brought new experiences, fun travels, and death to normal life. But all of those things have helped me see Him in new ways. Sure the wounds have been deep in some areas of life, but as I came across this song today I was reminded how beautiful the scars really are...
Below are a few pictures from my 2017. I've had to look at them time and time again to remind me of all the blessings I've had because truth is, life is full of so many blessings. Some we see clearly and others we take for granted. I am very grateful for the countless blessings I've been given in my life and I hope to never take them for granted even though I know my human ways fail over and over...
May this week be full of days that take you to Him...through the good and hard.
"I'm thankful for the scars cause without them I wouldn't know Your heart..."
♡♥♡♥
