Thinking about all that has happened in 4 years makes my head hurt. Today when I was thinking about all the changes and challenges I have been through in my time at Olivet I became so thankful for where I am at today despite all of those circumstances. I love my school now more then I ever have in the time I've been there. I'm thankful I go to a school where I look forward to going back. A place where God continually puts people in my path to show me His love. I can't imagine having spent the last four years at any other school. And I am so thankful that from one decision and a leap of faith that God has blessed me so much.
I think back to my life before college. I hated school, it was a challenge to get me to go everyday. I would do whatever I possibly could to get out of there as fast as I could. During this time my life was focused around sports. That's the only way my parents could convince me to stay in school. I went to school everyday only because I had to. I put on a smile and faked it. At this point in my life I wondered if I would ever fall in love with a place and if I would ever find something I truly loved doing. I'm glad that I no longer feel this way today. There have been a few things I have discovered I really love doing and there have also been several places I have really fallen in love with.
It's hard for me to sit down and think about all the people who have been a part of my life these last 4 years. It's difficult to look back at years and think about the relationships I had and to realize the changes that some of those have been through. Through each person that has been a part of my life God has taught me something and for that I am grateful. There are seasons in life and I am not necessarily a fan of the change these seasons bring, but I am a fan of the work God does in my life in the midst of them.
I'm thankful for the season of life I am in today and for the people who are walking with me in this season. Some of them I have known for only a short while, others I have known since before school started. Each have a special place in my heart. I'm thankful for the encouragement they bring me. I'm thankful for who I am in Christ and for His power in my life. I'm thankful for His grace that he so freely gives so that my bitter heart can be softened and made new. I'm thankful that despite changes and despite hurt that God is our healer. I'm thankful for a God of perfect love, who loves when I can't. I'm thankful for a God who walks with each of us and that he walks with those who I can't walk with. I'm thankful that despite the seasons of life God remains in each of us. I'm thankful that despite those who may not be in my life anymore that God can still be near to both of us.
God uses us even when we are weak. I'm thankful that despite my brokenness and despite my inadequacies that God uses me. I'm thankful that He allows me to lead even when I don't have it all together. I'm thankful that God accepts me as an imperfect person. I'm thankful that God has taken me to new places and has allowed me to try so many new things. He has given me so many passions through those experiences. I'm glad that despite what others may think and despite what the "norm" may be that God has a specially designed map for me. Sometimes it's hard to be grateful that the map is a little blurry. But, it's good. I'm glad that I can't quite see the map. I'm thankful that little by little God brings clarity to the map and step by step he leads me to the next place, the next person, the next thing that He wants me to be a part of. And I'm thankful that the part of the map that I have already been to (the past) has all been a part of my map to teach me something. That each person has been a part of my life for a reason. I'm thankful that the Lord knows what He is doing and that He always brings us out of dark places so that we can see His light.
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