"When the going gets tough..."

Many of us have heard this phrase: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."
This principle proves quite useful in times of extreme stress. Rather than run from the difficult situation, we are better running toward the problem and taking it by the horns.

One such case comes from my college years. I had reached a point of such mental exhaustion that it had started manifesting through very real physical illnesses over several months. Rather than quitting (an idea I sadly entertained), I kept fighting through it. I spent many days voiceless and many sleepless nights as I, with the help of God and many friends, fought through my inner turmoil.

Now, I find myself thankful for the difficulty I struggled through and the deeper faith God has blessed me with.

Those of you who are in the midst of a difficult time, I offer this advice. Keep pushing through it and fighting. You will be stronger for it.

Be True To Yourself

What a concept, to be true to oneself.  To do so risks losing friends, offending family and strangers, and true happiness.

With this post, I am speaking to myself as well as you.  I know how it feels to stand with friends and wear a mask or to be at home and not share your hurt.  Lately, I have gone through a period of self reflection with God and seen how I have stifled His work through me because I am not true to myself and real with the world around me.

Today's a new day and a time to make a commitment to be true to yourself.  Look in the mirror and embrace who you are, for there is no one else who is exactly like you.  Stand tall today as you tell the world your story and share who you are, even at the risk of being hurt.

God be with you.

One More Day

One more day.  A very loaded phrase. 

One more day with friends.

One more day with family.

One more day outside of a hospital.

One more day on the earth.

For some just one more day is a gift they can only ask God for.  Many of us have experienced the loss of a loved one and wished we could have just one more day to say goodbye.  This sorrow runs deep and can only be healed by time and grieving.

For others, one more day of life is a question that only the next day can answer.  They understand the uncertainty of life for their own is such.

I came to a crossroads that juxtaposed the two.  I felt such despair I questioned if I could continue on one more day.  And yet if I didn't and chose to end my life, I would leave so many wishing for just one more day to change my mind and heart, to show me that there was a life worth living.

Fortunately, God gave me strength to continue on just one more day and people to show me the reason to continue. 

If you are at this same crossroads, I beg you to wait just one more day.  Reach out to God and let Him save you in this very literal sense.  He can show life worth living and can heal your wounded heart and body.  Don't give up yet.  Keep holding on just one more day, one night, one more hour. 

May God be with you and heal you.

Invisible No More

Like so many, I have tried to be invisible.  I feared telling others about my past because I don't have the scars that people can physically see.  I carry scars deep within.  In fact, many are still open wounds that have yet to become healed scars.  

I began sharing my story when I reached a point that where my life was at stake.  I reached out for help... And met mixed reactions.  Those who knew nothing about it made light of the situationa and even accused me of doing it for attention.  Fortunately, I met with far more who understood enough to offer their support rather than their judgment.

Regardless of the reactions, I began to feel free.  I no longer had a deep, dark secret.  I had a story worth revealing.  I found that little girl who loved life and people.  I found the creative and happy part of me.  And I began to heal.

I am not invisible, even though the scars are.  I challenge you to tell your story.  Speak it here.  Talk to a few trusted friends or family members.  Shout it from the rooftops if you need to.  Never let anyone diminish the pain you suffer.  You are not invisible.  You are special and wonderful.  You are loved and deserved to be loved with a love that never hurts. 

May God bless you tonight and always.

Inner Beauty

The world glorifies the superficial beauty of a select few young people.  In America, this means being size 0 and looking like the supermodels we see on magazines.  For American men and boys, we glorify the muscular man who is also the smooth talker.  In other cultures, beauty is in having curves or having the rugged workman look.

These standards are nearly impossible for any of us "regular" people to reach in their lifetime.  The worse reality is that this superficial beauty is also finite.  In a few short years, we will fall well below the standards set by our world and culture.

There is a beauty that is worth far more than anything in the world.  Who you are inside, your personality, your love for people, is the most beautiful thing in the world.

As a teen, I knew one person who I envied more than anything.  She was the sweetest woman who gave everything to those who needed it.  She was never angry.  She always had a smile on her face and would lend that listening ear without judgment.  This woman was and is the person I wanted to be like. 

She was not the picture perfect supermodel.  However, she was the person you could count on, the one who knew exactly what to say.  She loved and laughed and always lit up the room.  It was her inner beauty that caught my attention.

What do you look like inside? Are you a pleasant person to be around, or are you superficial?

The Dream of Innocence

Tonight, I am finding myself a little stuck because I am facing a topic I know little of, innocence.  At a very young age, men stole my innocence by violating me in addition to other forms of abuse.

The sad reality is that many children have their innocence stolen from them.  So what now?  Do we wallow in self-pity and fear the world around us?  Do we allow the past to steal our future? 

I challenge you to something better, to surviving, thriving, and overcoming the past.  Let's make a stand and tell our abusers that they may have stolen our innocence by "educating" us at a young age but they cannot dictate our future.  They cannot take our happiness away. 

Stand strong, stand proud.  Overcome shame and be proud of the fact that you did survive and can overcome anything the world may throw at us.

Freedom

Today is the Fourth, my first alone.  I had two options, feel sorry for myself or thank God that I'm alive.  Fortunately, I resisted the former and spent the day being fairly productive.  This evening, I reminisced on older days, days with family and days remembering tragedy.

In America, we are blessed, though we rarely acknowledge it.  Yes, I suffered abuse at the hands of protectors.  However, I also had wonderful opportunities to go to school, meet new people and potentially better myself.  Even now, I am living over 1200 miles from my family, pursuing a Master's, and experiencing a new culture. 

In many countries, this would not be a possibility, especially for a young female.  At 24, I would already be married with several little ones or considered an old maid in many countries.  How awesome is it that I can say that I am a valuable person with opportunities to grow and choose my future.

I am also allowed to choose what religion to believe in and able to worship my God freely.  Some are not even afforded the privilege of openly or privately worshipping a God.  While we still must fight for the privilege to believe what we wish, the constitution affords us this privilege and even calls it a right.

So, today, and everyday, I will choose to thank God for the ability and opportunity to better myself and worship him.  I pray that you will thank God for these freedoms.  And for those of you who do not live in America and do not have many of these privileges, I pray that God will bless your life and help you to be all you can.