Forty-seven star-studded nights and twenty-five full work days. Six more packed weekends of final memory-making adventures and good-bye parties with my kids and friends. One final week-long stay at the orphanage and one more grad. school class to start. It's all that remains of my time in this beautiful place that's given me the five most incredible yet most challenging years of my life. And my heart continues to overflow with awe and gratitude.
No matter the depths of the difficulties we face, the magnitude of heart-wrenching injustices that surround us, or the giant sum of life-altering changes that turn our worlds upside down, one thing remains:
His love never fails, and His goodness knows no end.
Sure, there are days when I definitely don't believe this...nor do I act like I do...but His boundless grace always, ALWAYS pulls me back into the arms of His love and truth. I honestly don't know how He can handle constantly dealing with me and my floundering ways, but He does...and it just blows me away
every.
single.
time.
Do we really have ANY idea how much He loves us? I don't think our mental capacities can contain it. And that's ironically most likely why we don't always believe it. Just like that knight in shining armor who is supposed to come and take us off into the brilliant sunset...it seems too. dang. good. to. be. true.
BUT IT'S TRUE. And we have to believe it...to let that truth pervade each. and. EVERY. aspect. of. our. lives. Yes, even those comforts that we just can't let go of. Even those chronic sins we think we'll never conquer. Even those innumerable "UNFAIR!" cries we cry. Even those overwhelming things we think we'll never understand. Even the lies we just want to keep believing. Even those dark corners of ourselves that we want no one to see. And even those insecurities that keep us from believing in our dreams, our worth, and just how we fit into the giant puzzle and grand scheme of things.
So let's let go...and let Love in. It's what I've been slowly learning these past 5 years through community living, sacrificing comforts, seeking justice, and turning to less-than-best "security." As I prepare to leave this place, I'm going to keep letting go, as tough as it will be.
Oops, I didn't plan to preach in this one...stay tuned for my upcoming photo documentary! :)
No matter the depths of the difficulties we face, the magnitude of heart-wrenching injustices that surround us, or the giant sum of life-altering changes that turn our worlds upside down, one thing remains:
His love never fails, and His goodness knows no end.
Sure, there are days when I definitely don't believe this...nor do I act like I do...but His boundless grace always, ALWAYS pulls me back into the arms of His love and truth. I honestly don't know how He can handle constantly dealing with me and my floundering ways, but He does...and it just blows me away
every.
single.
time.
Do we really have ANY idea how much He loves us? I don't think our mental capacities can contain it. And that's ironically most likely why we don't always believe it. Just like that knight in shining armor who is supposed to come and take us off into the brilliant sunset...it seems too. dang. good. to. be. true.
BUT IT'S TRUE. And we have to believe it...to let that truth pervade each. and. EVERY. aspect. of. our. lives. Yes, even those comforts that we just can't let go of. Even those chronic sins we think we'll never conquer. Even those innumerable "UNFAIR!" cries we cry. Even those overwhelming things we think we'll never understand. Even the lies we just want to keep believing. Even those dark corners of ourselves that we want no one to see. And even those insecurities that keep us from believing in our dreams, our worth, and just how we fit into the giant puzzle and grand scheme of things.
So let's let go...and let Love in. It's what I've been slowly learning these past 5 years through community living, sacrificing comforts, seeking justice, and turning to less-than-best "security." As I prepare to leave this place, I'm going to keep letting go, as tough as it will be.
Oops, I didn't plan to preach in this one...stay tuned for my upcoming photo documentary! :)
