Words of Wisdom
I shared this with my Chi Omega chapter for a bit of senior wisdom for the younger girls. Though there were so many things I wanted to share with them, his basically encompasses what life has been like this semester thus far and what I've learned as a whole throughout my time here at A&M.
There are SO many things I've learned since being in College, and I would be up here for hours taking you through my experiences and things I wish I had known, but I want to share something that I've really come to be encouraged by, and this mindset has made all the difference in the world to me this year, and I wish it had been this way forever. Maybe this is me trying to simplify my life because everything around me seems like it’s always spinning so fast and changing and demanding and I can hardly grasp moments, maybe it stems from multiple experiences and trials, maybe it's searching for a deeper meaning to things and how to seek pure Holy Joy, maybe it's all I know to do right now at this very point as I'm on the verge of entering into a new, scary phase of life, or maybe it's spending some of my free time diving into inspirational books like the one I just finished, One Thousand Gifts. Regardless, here's what I want to leave you with tonight.
Give thanks and choose joy. I cannot express to you how important this is. So many times, in fact, my entire life I feel like, I have had the tendency to wish things away or while being in one moment, wishing I were someone or something else; I'm constantly thinking about the next moment or things on my to-do list. Are you? This results in never fully being in the moment, giving thanks to what is given to you in the present time, soaking in every minute so it doesn't pass you by too quickly; that's how time gets away from us and like myself, you will suddenly you look up and you're about to graduate. "I can’t wait to get away from my parents, I can't wait until next semester, I can't wait until I'm out of Architecture, out of Texas, until this test is over, wait until Christmas Break, until I have that outfit, until my hair looks this way," have been just a few personal quotes. After I have a boyfriend, or attend this party, or be accepted by this organization, THEN my life will begin, THEN I'll be satisfied and life can start. Sound familiar? But are we ever satisfied? What are you waiting for? There’s good news: you don’t have to wait any longer because it’s here! Give thanks. In the daily tasks, in the laundry, in the meetings, in walking to class, in studying, and even in the painful trials. If we view life like it's a movie- like one mere instance will be the climax (like getting engaged or getting accepted into PPA or becoming a Chi-O), that life isn't complete until it happens and after it does…then what? We're then waiting for something else instead of giving thanks for what's in the present and time gets away and we’re stressed and we’re overwhelmed and we wish it away and we’re stripped of joy. So many times I haven't fully been in conversation because I'm thinking about who I'm going to talk to next, or I'm not listening in class because I'm drowning in thinking about my to-do list for the next two weeks, and I'm letting time pass me by and opportunity to learn and I lose moments with people who aren’t going to live life here with me much longer without even noticing. And guess what? Now I only have 7 more months to be here. We're not even promised tomorrow, and we're so future-oriented and consumed in what all "we're waiting for" that the precious gifts that are given to us every second of every day are not appreciated, accepted, or fully embraced! How exhausting it is to never be satisfied where you are or who you are. Ever. God made EACH moment a gift, and each one is to be accepted with gratitude, and I'm learning, that with gratitude, comes joy. Holy Joy. Joy that you can overflow with, trusting that though you may not know what's coming next, though what's in front of you seems unknown or scary, God is going to light your path as you step one foot in front of the other. One step at a time. One moment at a time. Breathe, and enjoy! Don't wish away singleness for those who are single, don't wish away your experience living in the house, don't take for granted your roommates or friends or your parents your classes or your current involvements or uninvolvements. Don't treat life like it's an emergency, like you always have to be checking your texts, your Facebook, your e-mail, and editing your to-do list 100 times a day. Life is not an emergency.
This summer, while in Europe, I tried to make it my theme to "Just…be." I wanted so badly to just BE over there, to not be on a strict schedule, to soak in every single minute and every conversation and every sight because I didn't know when I would be back! It was so beautiful and breathtaking and each moment I regarded as a treasure, but why didn't I do that here? Why can't I do that right now? Each moment here is just as beautiful and just as breathtaking in its own way. This is the time of your life! Yes, you will have many "times of your lives," but you're in THIS one RIGHT NOW. Maybe it comes with age, or the fact that my clinging to the Lord has brought thankfulness and joy and hope because that’s all I feel like I know to do in this life that seems so crazy, I don’t know, but this has made me appreciate who I am made to be, who others are, where I came from, and where I am RIGHT NOW. I’m more thankful for my parents, for my roommates, for my personal experiences, for Chi Omega, for Texas A&M. I wish I could say I’m perfect and this is always what goes on in my head, but that would be a lie because I’m still learning and growing and always will be. I just want to invite you to do this with me, with each other. Daily. Don't wish you were somewhere else or someone else, because it goes by all too quickly and you were created uniquely, and one day, you don't want to wish that you hadn’t wished it all away…So give thanks. In whatever way you know to do: out loud, making a list of 1000 things, writing thank you/encouraging letters to others, singing, breathing…being. Now. You will find that your gratitude and acceptance of each good and perfect gift, each moment and for who YOU are, will be married not with happiness, but true, inner, pure Holy Joy. Always give thanks, and choose JOY!
This summer, while in Europe, I tried to make it my theme to "Just…be." I wanted so badly to just BE over there, to not be on a strict schedule, to soak in every single minute and every conversation and every sight because I didn't know when I would be back! It was so beautiful and breathtaking and each moment I regarded as a treasure, but why didn't I do that here? Why can't I do that right now? Each moment here is just as beautiful and just as breathtaking in its own way. This is the time of your life! Yes, you will have many "times of your lives," but you're in THIS one RIGHT NOW. Maybe it comes with age, or the fact that my clinging to the Lord has brought thankfulness and joy and hope because that’s all I feel like I know to do in this life that seems so crazy, I don’t know, but this has made me appreciate who I am made to be, who others are, where I came from, and where I am RIGHT NOW. I’m more thankful for my parents, for my roommates, for my personal experiences, for Chi Omega, for Texas A&M. I wish I could say I’m perfect and this is always what goes on in my head, but that would be a lie because I’m still learning and growing and always will be. I just want to invite you to do this with me, with each other. Daily. Don't wish you were somewhere else or someone else, because it goes by all too quickly and you were created uniquely, and one day, you don't want to wish that you hadn’t wished it all away…So give thanks. In whatever way you know to do: out loud, making a list of 1000 things, writing thank you/encouraging letters to others, singing, breathing…being. Now. You will find that your gratitude and acceptance of each good and perfect gift, each moment and for who YOU are, will be married not with happiness, but true, inner, pure Holy Joy. Always give thanks, and choose JOY!
“Humbly let go. Let go of trying to do, let go of trying to control, let go of my own way, let go of my own fears. Let God blow His wind, His trials, oxygen for joy's fire. Leave the hand open and be. Be at peace. Bend the knee and be small and let God give what God chooses to give because He only gives love and whisper a surprised thanks. This is the fuel for joy's flame. Fullness of joy is discovered only in the emptying of will. And I can empty. I can empty because counting His graces has awakened me to how He cherishes me, holds me, passionately values me. I can empty because I am full of His love. I can trust.” -One Thousand Gifts
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