Because You Love Me

I attribute anything good about me to my parents.

When I was 7, my parents taught me how to walk in faith. Every morning before school my family read the Bible, sang worship songs, and prayed together. It sounds cheesy now, but I loved singing praise to God while my dad played the guitar. I always left home completely covered in love and prayer.

When I was 9, my parents taught me how to share God’s love with others. They served as Young Life leaders and mentored high school students in our community. When a girl in their group couldn’t live at home anymore, my parents invited her to come live with us.

When I was 12, my parents taught me how to give generously. They told my brothers and I that we were going to downsize the gift-giving at Christmas. Instead, we saved half of the money normally spent on presents and gave it anonymously to a family who needed it.

When I was 18, my parents taught me the importance of spending time with family. They required us to be home for family dinners every Sunday night, regardless of what we’d rather be doing. Now that I’ve lived on my own for 5 years, I really miss those times we had to all be together.

This year, at 23, my parents taught me how to love through painful circumstances. Instead of letting me feel sorry for myself when I was heart-broken, they told me to read Corinthians. “Look at what it means to love someone. Love is not jealous or self-seeking. If you really love someone, you’ll want the best thing for them… Even if that means not being with you.“

My mom and dad are the strength in my steps and the voices in my head that remind me to do the right thing. If I become half as loving and generous as they are… My life will be extremely blessed.

Building Castles

I told my mom that I don’t feel like I’m doing anything important with my life. Her response?

“Some of the most beautiful structures were built by people who never saw the results. Just because you’re not seeing the impact your life has on others, that doesn’t mean God is not using you. Someone’s life will be better because of you– even if you never realize it. Trust that your life is a contribution to something beautiful.”

Isn’t that an incredible thought? I hope that image inspires and humbles you as much as it does me. If you’re feeling discouraged, just remember– God is using you to build castles. You may never see the beauty of the finished product… but others will.  

There Are Only So Many Tomorrows

I don’t know where God is calling me and that scares me.

I’ve spent the past 4 months applying for jobs because my current position isn’t full-time. Doors keep closing and I’m starting to lose confidence and enthusiasm. I’m also beginning to wonder whether I even want the doors I’ve been knocking on to open. My prayer journal is littered with entries that say, “God, please use me.”  But, for now, I’m still waiting for clarity and answers.

I love working with children and have always wanted to volunteer in an orphanage. After graduating recently, I applied to be a caregiver at an orphanage in Latin America for 13 months. My application was denied due to a lack of Spanish fluency. I took that as my sign to start looking for a 9 to 5 corporate job and that’s what I’ve been doing.

But, I’ve realized that I can’t just let my passion go. The deep longing in my heart is to serve people and I believe God gave me that desire for a reason. I don’t really care that I’ve already been rejected, or that people are pressuring me to establish a professional career, or that I’d have to give up comforts to volunteer for a year. I just want to do something simple and beautiful with my life.

This is where I’m at: unsure of my purpose and unsure of how to move forward. If any of you wonderful people have advice or know of a program I should look into, I’d love to hear from you. I hope you’re all doing well and walking in love today.

Take Risks. Tell Secrets. This Life Is Yours.

[photos reblogged from tumblr]

88 Important Truths About Life

SOURCE: http://www.raptitude.com/2009/07/88-important-truths-ive-learned-about-life/

Everyone gets drilled with certain lessons in life. Sometimes it takes repeated demonstrations of a given law of life to really get it into your skull, and other times one powerful experience drives the point home once forever. Here are 88 things I’ve discovered about life, the world, and its inhabitants by this point in my short time on earth.

1. You can’t change other people, and it’s rude to try.

2. It is a hundred times more difficult to burn calories than to refrain from consuming them in the first place.

3. If you’re talking to someone you don’t know well, you may be talking to someone who knows way more about whatever you’re talking about than you do.

4. The cheapest and most expensive models are usually both bad deals.

5. Everyone likes somebody who gets to the point quickly.

6. Bad moods will come and go your whole life, and trying to force them away makes them run deeper and last longer.

7. Children are remarkably honest creatures until we teach them not to be.

8. If everyone in the TV show you’re watching is good-looking, it’s not worth watching.

9. Yelling always makes things worse.

10. Whenever you’re worried about what others will think of you, you’re really just worried about what you’ll think of you.

11. Every problem you have is your responsibility, regardless of who caused it.

12. You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time.

13. If you never doubt your beliefs, then you’re wrong a lot.

14. Managing one’s wants is the most powerful skill a person can learn.

15. Nobody has it all figured out.

16. Cynicism is far too easy to be useful.

17. Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours.

18. Whenever you hate something, it hates you back: people, situations and inanimate objects alike.

19. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s works alone can teach you everything you need to know about living with grace and happiness.

20. People embellish everything, as a rule.

21. Anger reveals weakness of character, violence even moreso.

22. Humans cannot destroy the planet, but we can destroy its capacity to keep us alive.  And we are.

23. When people are uncomfortable with the present moment, they fidget with their hands or their minds.  Watch and see.

24. Those who complain the most, accomplish the least.

25. Putting something off makes it instantly harder and scarier.

26. Credit card debt devours souls.

27. Nobody knows more than a minuscule fraction of what’s going on in the world. It’s just way too big for any one person to know it well.

28. Most of what we see is only what we think about what we see.

29. A person who is unafraid to present a candid version of herself to the world is as rare as diamonds.

30. The most common addiction in the world is the draw of comfort. It wrecks dreams and breaks people.

31. If what you’re doing feels perfectly safe, there is probably a better course of action.

32. The greatest innovation in the history of humankind is language.

33. Blame is the favorite pastime of those who dislike responsibility.

34. Everyone you meet is better than you at something.

35. Proof is nothing but a collection of opinions that match your own.

36. Knowledge is belief, nothing more.

37. Indulging your desires is not self-love.

38. What makes human beings different from animals is that animals can be themselves with ease.

39. Self-examination is the only path out of misery.

40. Whoever you are, you will die. To know and understand that means you are alive.

41. Revenge is for the petty and irresponsible.

42. Getting truly organized can vastly improve anyone’s life.

43. Almost every cliché contains a truth so profound that people have been compelled to repeat it until it makes you roll your eyes. But the wisdom is still in there.

44. People cause suffering when they are suffering themselves. Alleviating their suffering will help them not hurt others.

45. High quality is worth any quantity, in possessions, friends and experiences.

46. The world would be a better place if everyone read National Geographic.

47. If you aren’t happy single, you won’t be happy in a relationship.

48. Even if it costs no money, nothing is free if it takes time.

49. Emotions exist to make us strongly biased towards or against something. This hinders as often as it helps.

50. Addiction is a much greater problem in society than it’s made out to be. It’s present in every person in various forms, but usually we call it something else.

51. “Gut feeling” is not just a euphemism. Tension in the abdomen speaks volumes about how you truly feel about something, beyond all arguments and rationales.

52. Posture and dress change profoundly how you feel about yourself and how others feel about you, like it or not.

53. Everyone thinks they’re an above average driver.

54. The urge to punish others has much more to do with venting frustration than correcting behavior.

55. By default, people think far too much.

56. If anything is worth splurging on, it’s a high-quality mattress. You’ll spend a third of your life using it.

57. There is nothing worse than having no friends.

58. To write a person off as worthless is an act of great violence.

59. Try as we might to be otherwise, we are all hypocrites.

60. Justice is a human invention which is in reality rarely achievable, but many will not hesitate to destroy lives demanding it.

61. Kids will usually understand exactly what you mean if you keep it to one or two short sentences.

62. Stuff that’s on sale usually has an annoying downside.

63. Casual swearing makes people sound dumb.

64. Words are immensely powerful. One cruel remark can wound someone for life.

65. It’s easy to make someone’s day just by being uncommonly pleasant to them.

66. Most of what children learn from their parents isn’t taught on purpose.

67. The secret ingredient is usually butter, in obscene amounts.

68. It is worth re-trying foods that you didn’t like at first.

69. Problems, when they arise, are rarely as painful as the experience of fearing them.

70. Nothing — ever — happens exactly like you pictured it.

71. North Americans are generally terrible at accepting compliments and offers of help.

72. There are not enough women in positions of power. The world has suffered from this deficit for a long time.

73. When you break promises to yourself, you feel terrible. When you make a habit of it, you begin to hate yourself.

74. A good nine out of ten bad things I’ve worried about never happened. A good nine out of ten bad things that did happen never occurred to me to worry about.

75. You can’t hide a bad mood from people who know you well, but you can always be polite.

76. Sometimes you have to remove certain people from your life, even if they’re family.

77. Anyone can be calmed in an instant by looking at the ocean or the stars.

78. There is no point finishing a book you aren’t enjoying. Life is too short for that. Swallow your pride and put it down for good, unfinished.

79. There is no correlation between the price of a brand of batteries and how long they last.

80. Breaking new ground only takes a small amount more effort than you’re used to giving.

81. Life is a solo trip, but you’ll have lots of visitors. Some of them are long-term, most aren’t.

82. One of the best things you can do for your kids is take them on road trips. I’m not a parent, but I was a kid once.

83. The fewer possessions you have, the more they do for you.

84. Einstein was wiser than he was intelligent, and he was a genius.

85. When you’re sick of your own life, that’s a good time to pick up a book.

86. Wishing things were different is a great way to torture yourself.

87. The ability to be happy is nothing other than the ability to come to terms with how things change.

88. Killing time is an atrocity. It’s priceless, and it never grows back.

I Still Have A Lot To Learn

I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.

I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.”

I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.

I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.

I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

–Maya Angelou

Open Letter to My 14 Year-Old Self

Dear 14 Year-Old Self,

Even when it feels like the world is shouting that you’re not good enough… You are. You always have been. You always will be.

You are beautiful. People around you will be obsessed with their appearance, but you shouldn’t let them get to you. Don’t compromise your self-worth to fit in. I promise, you won’t feel better by starving yourself. It may make you feel “in control” for a short amount of time… But then everything else will spin out of control.  Eat well, exercise, and love yourself.

Always remember that the prettiest girls are not necessarily the thinnest ones, with the whitest teeth, and a closet full of vintage dresses. The prettiest girls are the ones who have only kind things to say about others, and themselves. Try to be of those girls. Some people will disagree with this description of beauty, but those aren’t the people you need to surround yourself with anyway.

People are more dangerous than your naïve heart can imagine. I don’t want you to live in fear, but you need to know how to protect yourself. If a boy ever physically or emotionally hurts you, that should be the last time he ever sees you. I don’t care how many times he says he loves you or promises not to hurt you again. He doesn’t and he will. If you stay, you’ll start a pattern of playing the victim. You were not meant to be the victim, darling. You need to be the heroine of your life.

Insist on your own happiness. Fight the temptation to give into depression. Disregard the pressure to compete with your peers. Ignore the voices in your mind that wonder if you’re loved. Don’t give in. Be stronger than everything that hinders your spirit. Be creative, seize opportunities, and pursue everything that inspires you. Paint. Read. Write. Swim. Express your soul. 

Don’t worry if you’re not the girl all the boys like when you’re young. You’ll have plenty of time and opportunities for that later. Just enjoy the time you have now– time to be free, innocent and void of responsibilities.  Someday, there will be a line of men who claim to adore you. You won’t accept all their offers, because you’re not desperate for love. Instead, you’ll ask these men to prove themselves through words and acts of genuine kindness and respect.

The older you get, the more you will realize that your life needs to be about giving more than you take. When you start feeling overwhelmed or insecure, pray about it. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and ask God to fill your mind with His love and compassion. Ask Him for a mind that thinks of others more than yourself. If you do this enough times, your fears and insecurities will be replaced with joy and peace.

You will not make it through life without scars, but it’s never too late to re-do parts of your past. You always have choices. You can choose to give and accept forgiveness. You can choose to make peace with your past. You can choose to silence cruel words with compassion. You can choose to stand up for what’s right. Even if you stand alone.

Walk in beauty and grace, today and always.

Jaclyn

Things Will Change

 

Things will change: you won’t feel this way forever. And anyway, sometimes the hardest lessons to learn are the ones your soul needs most. After all, you can’t truly be happy if you’ve never known pain. You can’t truly feel joy if you’ve never felt heartbreak. You can’t know what it’s like to be filled unless you’ve been empty.

– Kelly Cutrone

I Carry Your Heart With Me

I’m not convinced that relationships ever really end. Even when one person says “it’s over” and both people move on. We reach this point and our environment pressures us to pretend like the people of our past never existed. We’re encouraged to write our ex’s off as crazy and “just forget about them.” At the very least, we’re expected to stop loving them.

I see things differently.

I sometimes love people more after a break-up. Not in a way that keeps me chained to the past, but in a way that increases the capacity of my heart. Sometimes you love more by sincerely letting go– by releasing another person to go wherever they need to– than you could have loved if you stayed in a relationship. If this is true, then the separation of two people is not the end. It’s just a new chapter. You may not speak or see each other in this new chapter… But, when you really need it and least expect it, they may be the voice in your head that tells you to keep going. The voice that says love makes everything worth it.

I don’t like thinking of someone as an “ex.” What does that even mean? To many people, it means regarding someone they used to love deeply as something less. Especially when new people get involved– then we really start to get jealous, control, and justify. I’ve been there. I’ve felt threatened by ex-girlfriends and jealous of girls who replaced me. I’ve picked others apart so I felt better in comparison. In these moments of raw jealousy, I forget that these women are not my enemies… In Christ, they are my sisters. The men of my past are not crazy and they’re not jerks… In Christ, they are my brothers.

It’s hard to know why someone comes into your life. All relationships require flexibility and change. How do we know when we’re supposed to fight to make it work or when we’re supposed to let it go? I wish I had a good solution to this question, but I don’t. Perhaps I need to start listening to what I tell friends– you never know.  You never know what’s best for another person. Sometimes you don’t even know what’s best for you. You never know if God will bring someone from the past into your future. You never know… But God does. Just have faith.

We don’t expect the people who teach us the really beautiful things in life to be the same ones to teach us the really difficult things. I think that’s what hurts the most. If you’re hurting because you expected a happy ending and found yourself in a world of pain… Let those tears soften your heart. Keep loving and don’t worry about chapters that have closed. Your story is still being written and, I promise, there will be a happy ending.

Sending Love to My Blog Friends

I was having a hard week until I received an outpouring of love from some wonderful people. Thank you, blog friends, for sharing your positive attitudes and words of encouragement with me. I want to individually thank those of you who have particularly affected my heart and created waves of joy over the past few months. I am so blessed by your comments and inspired by your work.

Greg– You have been a constant support over the past few months. You’re one of the only “real life” friends who reads my blog and I always get a smile from your comments. Thank you for being the most amazing friend anyone could ask for.

Carol– I have consistently followed your blog since I started my own. I get so much encouragement and joy from reading about your heart for people and Jesus. Your comments and support have truly blessed me. (Experience Carol’s passionate faith at: http://myloveforjesus.wordpress.com/)

Heather– I adore you! From your writing, to your art, to your personal style– you are radiantly unique. You’re going to help so many people with your talents and kind heart. Thanks for always taking time to comment on my posts. (Follow Heather’s amazing style at: http://girlundiscovered.wordpress.com/)

Shelby– You are quite possibly the sweetest girl ever. Everything you write reveals a kind, reflective heart. I’m convinced that we would get along wonderfully if we ever ran into each other at  a coffee shop. Your joy for life and unique style make you beautiful. You stand out. (Visit Shelby and say “hi” at: http://shelbyisrad.wordpress.com/)

Chris– More often than not, your comments make me laugh. I love your sense of humor and your ability to openly share your heart. Reading your work has made me laugh, cry, reconsider, and ponder. Thank you for encouraging, challenging, and inspiring me. (Enjoy Chris’ brilliant posts at: http://justme365.wordpress.com/)

Regan– Your blog is such a source of joy for everyone who visits it. Your kind heart shines right through your beautiful writing. Thank you for taking time to leave me encouragement this week. I can’t wait to read more of your work. (View Regan’s colorful blog at: http://365gratitude.wordpress.com/)

Sharon– My heart always feels lighter after visiting your blog. You write so beautifully and poignantly that I often find myself re-reading your posts several times. You are a shining example of someone who has endured struggles, shed the difficulties of the past, and flown away as something incredibly beautiful. Thank you for sharing your heart and showing us that life is “better than just surviving.” (See Sharon’s work at: http://betterthansurviving.wordpress.com/)

MJ– I adore your positive attitude and willingness to share advice about life, love, and personal growth. Everything you write comes across as genuine and encouraging. When I read about all the love and beauty you’ve found in your life, it gives me hope for my own. Thank you. (Be inspired by MJ at:  http://emjayandthem.wordpress.com/)

LittleCurio– I am so inspired by your witty and creative blog posts. Your comments always put a smile on face and joy in my heart. Keep writing and being you– you’re beautiful! (Visit her blog at:  http://littlecurio.wordpress.com/)

Kitkat1126– I adore your blog because I relate so much to the topics you write about. From break-ups to moving on to working out– I love your posts. Thanks for taking time to stop by my blog and comment. It’s so wonderful to meet other 20-something girls who are trying to get the most out of life. (Check out her fabulous posts at: http://cpan1126.wordpress.com/)

Chloe– You are such a talented writer. After reading your work, I felt so privileged that you took time to comment on mine. I hope you keep writing and sharing your gift with the world. (Read Chloe’s poetry at: http://chloerichmond.wordpress.com/)

Rachael Eliz– Your bold faith is both admirable and beautiful. Reading your posts often inspires me to pursue a deeper relationship with God. Keep loving people and seeking God– you’ll inspire many, like you’ve inspired me. Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart with me. (Be blessed by Rachael’s blog at: http://rachaeleliz94.wordpress.com/)

Megan (Shades of Bright)– My “twin.” I can’t begin to describe how much I admire your heart for Jesus and humanity. You are one of those all-encompassing , beautiful in every way, people who will change the world. I wish you love and courage to take with you wherever God calls you.

Dagnydarling– Your writing absolutely cracks me up. You’re amazingly witty, charming, and brilliant. Whenever I read your posts, I feel envious of your gift for writing and story-telling. I hope you know how incredible you are and that I always leave your blog with a smile on my face. (Read her work at: http://dagnydarling.wordpress.com/)

Ashleykmason– I love the advice you passed on to me the other day, when you told me to be strong and not lose faith in love. You have such a compassionate heart and it shows in the way you offer support to others. Thank you for being there to uplift me. (Get to know Ashley at: http://ashleykmason.wordpress.com/)

Christine– Your blog constantly makes me smile. I love that you still find plenty of joy in the random blessing of life, even when you’re coping with heartbreak. You not only spread joy through your own posts, but you take time to leave encouragement on other people’s blogs. Thank you. (Read Christine’s blog at: http://realliferamblings.wordpress.com/)

Jeremy– We’ve only recently found each other’s blogs, but I’ve already received a lot of encouragement from you. Your writing is profound, honest, and uplifting. Thank you for sending me encouragement recently (through words and songs). I look forward to reading more of your posts. (View Jeremy’s blog at: http://jerecro721.wordpress.com/)

Margarita– We’ve only had a few exchanges, but you’ve commented on days when I really needed support. Thank you for being so thoughtful and kind. Your ability to reach out to others, even when your own heart is healing, says so much about your character. I know you’ll experience lots of love throughout your life because you give so much love away to others.

Michelle– I may not have met you, but I feel close to you through your writing and our e-mail exchanges. I can tell that you pour your heart and soul into everything you love– people, writing, friends, relationships, pets. That’s such a beautiful quality! Never stop smiling or fighting for everything you want in life. (See Michelle’s fabulous writing at: http://punkpolkadots.wordpress.com/)

Michaela– Your photography is absolutely stunning. You capture people in a way that is both raw and breathtaking. I am so inspired by the beauty of your art and your loving personality. (I don’t have the correct link to your blog, but please send it to me if you read this.)

K– You and your blog are both gorgeous. I love your fashion sense and creativity. Thank you for inspiring me with your beautiful photos and articles. (See her creative style at:http://aplacetodwell.wordpress.com/)

Fnkybee– You are just all-around fabulous. I love your writing, your style, and your zest for life. Thank you for loving life and for sharing your enthusiasm with others. You are truly inspiring. (Find inspiration at: http://fnkybee.wordpress.com/)

Vanillasense– You are clever, talented, and a truly inspiring person. I love where you refer to yourself as “a student of life” in your blog. It’s marvelous to see the world from your viewpoint. (Visit her blog at: http://vanillasense.wordpress.com/)

Lindsay– I love how goal-oriented and passionate you are. I know that you will achieve everything you want to and more. Never forget how beautiful, smart and fabulous you are. Thanks for being such an encouragement to me. (View Lindsay’s blog at: http://lindseney.wordpress.com/)

Lauren– I absolutely love your blog on healthy cooking. You have the most delicious, original recipes and a wonderfully positive outlook on life. (Get Lauren’s recipes at: http://sprinkledwlove.com/)

To anyone & everyone else– Thank you for taking time to read my work. I feel like life is blowing me kisses each time I get an encouraging message. May you continue to love and inspire others with your beautiful hearts.