birthdays are fun. my birthday happened to be last week, on the 15th. there's something about people knowing that it is your birthday, that just makes you feel known. i tend to forget, ( like I do with most things), but one way that i receive love the best is through words of affirmation and encouragement. and what rocks about birthdays, is that it is the perfect time to receive words of affirmation.
if that's what you're into.
but, what was different this birthday ( other than my old age ), is that i feel like i learned a lot about myself through the observations of other people. on the night of my birthday, after joyous celebration at the Livery with friends, time with the bros watching Star Wars Ep 5, i settled into the Treehouse and opened some of the cards i'd received.
this past week, i've had a lot of friends write me notes. for my birthday, from friends leaving campus for break, holiday cards, etc. and i've been super grateful about it. it has been a super unique and cool way to recognize the way that God has been at work in my life - from a different point of view. amidst myself being stressed out, busy, tired, burnt out, stubborn and down right snappy, others have some how been about to call out the gold in me. which is no credit to myself. but rather a miracle from the Lord. friends were writing me notes on how i had impacted them. friends were calling out characteristics in me i hadn't ever realized. people were thanking me for things i had acted and reacted, most of which i hadn't much memory.
now, this may purely speak to my lack of memory. but i think it majorly speaks to an awesome and delightful paradox. that God can make good, beautiful things out of me, a human that never has it together. but through Jesus' grace, somehow it measures up to something. somehow i measure up to someone others can delight in. somehow He makes a big splash in the lives of others...and somehow i was a part of it?
it can be confusing, but i will accept myself as a gift. isn't that a weird thought? i can be not only a gift to others, but i can be a gift to myself as well. I can be a gift to myself in realizing how good and faithful God is through me. after all, i do not own myself, nor do i own the good that comes from me.
If life is a gift, what a cool opportunity life can be. that once i am blessed, i can be a blessing.
How are you a gift? To others? Yourself? To God?
if that's what you're into.
but, what was different this birthday ( other than my old age ), is that i feel like i learned a lot about myself through the observations of other people. on the night of my birthday, after joyous celebration at the Livery with friends, time with the bros watching Star Wars Ep 5, i settled into the Treehouse and opened some of the cards i'd received.
this past week, i've had a lot of friends write me notes. for my birthday, from friends leaving campus for break, holiday cards, etc. and i've been super grateful about it. it has been a super unique and cool way to recognize the way that God has been at work in my life - from a different point of view. amidst myself being stressed out, busy, tired, burnt out, stubborn and down right snappy, others have some how been about to call out the gold in me. which is no credit to myself. but rather a miracle from the Lord. friends were writing me notes on how i had impacted them. friends were calling out characteristics in me i hadn't ever realized. people were thanking me for things i had acted and reacted, most of which i hadn't much memory.
now, this may purely speak to my lack of memory. but i think it majorly speaks to an awesome and delightful paradox. that God can make good, beautiful things out of me, a human that never has it together. but through Jesus' grace, somehow it measures up to something. somehow i measure up to someone others can delight in. somehow He makes a big splash in the lives of others...and somehow i was a part of it?
it can be confusing, but i will accept myself as a gift. isn't that a weird thought? i can be not only a gift to others, but i can be a gift to myself as well. I can be a gift to myself in realizing how good and faithful God is through me. after all, i do not own myself, nor do i own the good that comes from me.
If life is a gift, what a cool opportunity life can be. that once i am blessed, i can be a blessing.
How are you a gift? To others? Yourself? To God?