I don't like to be reminded of how easily I can be discouraged (oh, no one liked my picture! I'm the least liked person I know!). But, the good thing is,
I'm also very easily encouraged...
My social media timeline is full of an extended trip we took 4 years ago. 4 years! I remember the specifics like it was yesterday. I remember the packing, and the nerves, the sadness of leaving my first GrandBoy (would he remember me?!?), the sadness of leaving my 3 pups.
But, I also remember the sights and sounds. I remember the adventure. I remember the friends we gained. The apartment and city we called home for 5 weeks.
And I remember that Grace of God.
It was real. It was tangible. It changed my life.
I was speaking to some Dear New-Old Friends, friends, who by the way are Heroes of Faith to us, and retelling the memories of our most recent trip to our South American home. A trip that, because it came with a hefty price tag that we're still paying, I have remembered as a failure. A big, fat, miss.
But somehow, in the retelling of the details, something changed. Listening to myself tell the tale, I said, "oh my gosh, that's amazing! I can't believe we did that..." My memories had gone through the filter of everything we'd done wrong, and I'd forgotten everything we did right. And we did a lot right. We experienced many things that many people haven't even dared to dream of.
So today, when my online "you did this 4 or so years ago" showed up, instead of cringing, I smiled... Instead of hiding from my shame, I smiled at my bravery.
Everyone's story isn't for everyone. I know I'm not everyone's cup of tea.
But...
I'm Somebody's favorite (and so are you), and He's not ready for me to stop.
So I won't.
And, if I won't, you don't have to either...
