This might sound odd, but it's recently come to my attention that I receive a disproportionate amount of compliments on how happy I always seem to be. It always seems funny to me because I don't think of myself as an unusually perky person or anything like that, but the truth is that even when I'm having a bad day I still have a lot to be thankful for and I think that's what shows.
I usually don't know how to receive compliments well, so I give a little awkward "Haha, thanks, I guess I am a pretty happy person," but that never feels like it cuts it. The truth is, I'm not a particularly happy person in myself - believe me, I can get in a foul mood like the best of us - but I do have a very unique story. A story that carries weight and that shapes my every moment even when I'm not thinking about it. It's become an integral part of who I am and rewired me from the inside out, and me being cheerful is only a surface level sign of that inner process. My story is a story of hope. Its a story of pain, tragedy, and overwhelming heartache, but it's also a story of freedom and of restoration. It's a story of knowing death intimately and staring it in the face for far too long, but then in an instant being given a life of light and love in it place. It's a story that baffles even me after all these years, and that continues to unfold to my amazement. And the best part of my story (in my humble opinion) is my smile. In this smile reflects the beauty of the one who saved me from my pit of deepest darkness. When I smile I remember both where I've been, who I was, who I am now, and everything it's taken to get me here. It's a smile that has depth because it has a story and a life of its own. It is the greatest and the most simple testimony I could ever share, so why would I ever want to keep it hidden?? Sadly, my story is far too long to share in a single post or in a passing chat, but I do love to share it with those who aren't afraid to hear it. It's the deepest, most significant part of who I am, and I know it probably means more to me than to most others, but that doesn't make it any less significant. In essence, my story is that you can never be too far gone. My story is that you can look fine on the outside while being completely dead and desperate inside. My story is that God is more dedicated to my safety and wellbeing than I ever could be, and His arm is never too short to reach me where I've fallen. My story is that miracles come in unexpected places and at unexpected times, and that being given a second shot at life is far from simply a nice idea. And if that's not of the highest significance, then I don't know what is!
0 Comments
|
ErikaJeremiah 29:11 Archives
March 2023
Categories |
|