Quiet Whispers

Do you ever get a thought or feeling and wonder where in the world it came from?  Or maybe a person's name randomly popped into your head and you don't know why but you feel like you should call or text them? Last week something in my heart told me to call one of my clients and ask if he had any dinner plans. I'm not going to lie but by the time Friday night rolls around I am soooo ready to plop on my couch! But this night was different. Something told me to step away from my comfort zone (and couch) and do something for someone else. You see, my client had recently lost his beloved wife just a couple weeks earlier. I used to train them together at the gym but now it's just the two of us. Earlier that morning I could sense that he was having a hard time with that, trying to find his new normal. He gladlu accelted my invitation and over dinner we talked about our lives and enjoyed some laughs. He shared with me how overwhelming the past couple weeks had been for him and how it was nice to take a break that day.  It was a nice evening but it wasn't until we departed that it hit me. He gave me a hug and smiled saying, "Thank you for making me feel special tonight." It was then that I realized that we all need each other. The simple act of having a meal together lifted this man's spirit at least for a few hours. I then realized it was God who layed that on my heart earlier that morning.

  My brothers and sisters in Christ are my family. I pray every morning for God to open my eyes to those hurting or in need around me and to equip me with what I need to make a difference. I'm sure He shows me these things every single day but it is only when I listen to and obey that quiet whisper speaking to me that I truly get it. If someone is on your mind it could be because they are going through something challenging and need your prayer or encouragement, but we won't know unless we reach out to them. I can't even tell you how many times I have received a seemingly random call or text at EXACTLY the right time. I'm grateful for those you have listened to that call to reach out to me when I needed it. Never underestimate the power of an encouraging word, a smile, a hug, a prayer. A small act of love can be enough to change a life, even if for a moment.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
 ~1 Thessalonians 5:11~

How I got here

One of the most frequently asked questions I get when meeting anyone new is, "Are you military?"  to which I reply "no." Then comes the  follow up, "What in the world brought you to New Bern, NC?!" Well, today I'm going to break it down for you with a general overview (and I can now just refer people to my blog for answer haha.)

I don't know about you but I love to look back on my life and see how everything is connected. Things that seemed minuscule at the time but became essential to the story of my life. For this story it starts back at my childhood home on Abbott Street in Lynn, Ma.




Summer 1994 - I meet Ariel, my neighbor's granddaughter and we quickly become best friends.




Fall 1996 - Because we did everything together, when Ariel asked me to join the high school's cross country team I naturally agreed. This is where I met Monique who was our team captain and how I discovered my love for running.




Fall 1999 - I went to visit Monique at Quinnipiac University (College at the time...don't worry, I had never heard of it either) and became interested in her major of Athletic Training (I had never heard of this but it intrigued me and she ended up switching majors the next year.)




Fall 2000 - 2004 - I made the decision to attend QU in Hamden, CT and study Athletic Training. I didn't know much about it but it sounded really cool. (Great reason to spends thousands of dollars right?!) My first major clinical rotation for my classes was with the QU Bobcats Baseball Team. This is where I met and became friends with Buddy.




Post College - After graduation I stayed in CT where I worked as a high school athletic trainer. Buddy, on the other hand, headed back home....to New Bern. Fast forward about 6 years and I was in a season of life where I yearned for a major change. I was talking with Buddy one evening and he convinced me to take a break from life and visit for a long weekend. By the end of that weekend I had fallen in love with the south and had been offered a place to live for the upcoming summer with his extremely generous parents. A month later my car was packed full and I began my journey south. Steve and Sabrina took care of me like one of their own for many months before I finally ventured out on my own. I am forever grateful for their generosity.




Wanna hear the best part of this story?  Steve, invited me to join him for workouts at the local YMCA. This is where I met one of my very best friends. Kate turned out to be my bridge to Jesus. The Lord worked through her in so many ways to lead me to a relationship with Him that continues to grow every day. Since then I have had a few people share with me that I have been their bridge. How crazy awesome is that?! So it isn't really about what brought me here but WHO brought me here. I don't believe in coincidences. I believe that every piece of that puzzle was perfectly planned out before I was even put on this earth. Of course there have been many more pieces added and family and friends that have supported my every step. I love that my puzzle is still being put together and I know that whatever comes my way is just another piece. God is so good!

Deserving

I have a hard time using the phrase "I do or don't deserve this or that." Jesus, who was without sin, suffered on the cross for me to give me life. He was tortured, spat on, left to die. He most definitely did not deserve that. Who am I to complain or make myself feel entitled to anything in this world?  The truth is, I am a sinner who is saved by grace on a daily basis by a God whom I fail quite often. What does God do? He loves me anyway, He never abandons me,  He lavishes me with gifts. The greatest love I have ever known. If anyone deserves anything, it is God who deserves to have the very best of me, all the time. He deserves for me to be obedient to His Word, to do things that will help bring others closer to Him. I can start by giving love, compassion, and forgiveness to my brothers and sisters and by serving those in the world around me.

God often works through us to help one another and provide our needs. I know that I can't earn God's grace or love but I have realized that the more love I give to the world the more I get in return. The less concerned I am with what I do or don't deserve the more open my heart becomes to God's gentle whisper. God honors those who love Him and walk according to His will. I'm not saying that I do things with the expectation that I will get something in return. I do them with a loving heart because it's the least and best thing I could do to show my love and gratitude for the One who gave it all for me. I can't say that I have been or am always obedient to those whispers but I know it brings God so much glory and honor when I do. When I am obedient to God's instructions for me, I am more available for Him to do work in and through me. He blesses me so I can be a blessing to others. Simply put, God always gives me His very best. And when I give Him my best in return, I find myself walking in His perfect will.  And He deserves all the praise for that!

You are where you are supposed to be

Have you ever found yourself wishing that your life was different? Maybe you had your whole life planned out the way you thought it should go only to find that the path was way different. I have, more times that I care to admit. I've learned that this way of thinking just feeds a seed of discontentment in me and I start measuring my life against others. A few weeks ago I was enjoying a warm October day walking the beach with my pup when I had a moment of realization that I may not have everything I want but I most definitely have everything I need.  I am blessed with far more than I deserve, a loving family, amazing friends, a home, a car, jobs, a closet full of clothes, food, and we can't forget my sweet girl Lilo. But when I focus on what I do no  have it dims the light on these blessings. Since that day, I have chosen to appreciate and embrace the place where I am. This world is a much brighter place when I do. After all, you never know when any particular season of your life is going to change.

The Lord provides for me Every.Single.Time. His timing is a little off from mine but I'm pretty sure God knows what He is doing. And I don't always understand the plan but I do know that it always ends up being way better than anything I could have written up. Even if I don't get those things that I pray for....God is still good.