12 Years = Complete

The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be. 

-Oprah Winfrey

Each day I find that I'm given an opportunity. An opportunity of how I'll respond, what my attitude will be, and so on. I can choose to make a negative or positive impact. If you're anything like me, there are days where you wake up "off" and the smallest detail can send you into a place of frustration. But frustration is just a sign of discontentment. It's really a sign of the heart. And there is a scheme to try and change our focus from the blessings to what we think we don't have. Trust me. I've been here. And sometimes frustration can be built up over time and cause an awareness. It can bless us with the opportunity to step back and take a look--a look at the situation, the people surrounding us, the blessings we have, etc. But the turning point is what we do with it: Will we refuse to be discontent a second longer or will we wallow--remaining in the place of discontentment? The choice is ours.

Today, I regret to inform you, I wallowed. I refused for a bit, but then I wallowed. Yep--like a little school girl. But thank heavens for grace, because my eyes are opened just in writing this. Those frustrations, those difficulties, those things I thought were meant to drag me completely down didn't. 

And then a personal promise came to me: Your 12 years are complete.

Now, I know that this means nothing to you. But it immediately spoke to my current situation. The key is this: This thought/word came to me when I took a moment to rest somewhere other than in my discontentment. As Oprah says in the quotation above, "to be alive is to evolve." It's a process. So, I raise a toast to you (wallowing or taking a look through the glass past your frustration) and say: It's a new day! Your 12 years are up! Move forward! Seize the day! Kick fear to the curb! 

So, for the rest of this day (evening) and into tomorrow, I choose to rest in peace. I choose to believe that I am taken care of and that 12 years = complete. May you do the same, sweet reader! Remember: all dreamers faced frustration and wallowing moments. They faced a trial so much larger than themselves--sometimes lasting years. But the overcomers stopped and looked around and chose to embrace life! May you do the same.

Carpe Diem!

Beauty is in the Eye of One Beholder

Today started like any other day. The morning began with a gentle whisper followed by a cup of coffee. Each day, we have a decision. We can choose who and what we listen to. As a woman, we are relational and we're called to radiate beauty. But there are many voices telling us what and who is beautiful. Oftentimes, we are told that our look doesn't measure up or that there is something defective. But what others and the world forget, is that it is in the imperfection that true beauty is found. It is that scar that you have because of a time your burnt your hand pulling pizza out of the oven. Beauty is found in the places of imperfection that proclaim your life story. And true beauty is found only in the eye of the Beholder--the one who made you and fashioned you and called you to this earth. He sees you and calls you by name. And what he says is...beautiful.

So, the next time you're wondering if you truly are beautiful, don't wonder. Just believe--you are! This video came across my path and it encouraged my heart to embrace my thunder thighs and bubble butt and the few white hairs that keep returning (no matter how often I highlight them). And so, I want you to embrace who you are--on the outside and on the inside. Because when Jesus looks at you, he calls you beautiful! And when proclaim that through your belief, you can't help but exude beauty to the world! Let's embrace and celebrate today that we are women--called to radiate beauty!