For years, I have read countless articles, books, papers, essays, poetry, and daily or weekly inspirational posts. I saved innumerable maxims of encouragement and teacher humor while I snapped pictures of people who inspired or motivated me. I took notes in church, during devotions, and when listening to podcasts. I jotted down song lyrics-diligently and because it gave me joy, I filled journal after precious journal with quotes by authors, my favorite characters, and verses from my Bible. I wrote lovely things, stupid things, and painful things. I collected it all because it gave me joy. Next, I prayed for direction and words. His words. Not mine. I prayed for God to place people in my life who could guide and encourage my next steps. I struggled for a name for this endeavor because it seemed almost impossible to create something original. God sent wonderful help: Tom, Polly, Laura, Jeni, Sanah, and Chris. Each of these writers gave me different pieces of my puzzle. Simple instructions swirled around my mind and forced me to deal with one irrefutable revelation: I cannot care what other people think. I cannot change the way I write to please others. This journey is to challenge myself, to satisfy something that God placed on my heart. To glorify Him. Ironically, this is easier to write than to do. I hate making mistakes, wasting my time, and missing out on what He has planned for me. I worry about what others think entirely too much. Fear kept me from doing something important for myself. Fear keeps us in knots, Fear keeps us from glorifying HIm when He wants to give us the desires of our heart. I need God to sing to my heart. To sing words of encouragement. This occurs each time when we talk ourselves out of that something we have Always desired to do. Always craved to see. Always needed to try. Always fancied to hear. Last year, I met Sanah Jivani at the We Are Family Foundation Gala in NYC. I got to wear that fancy dress again as I went somewhere and did something I never imagined for myself. It was incredible. As I sat at my table, I looked around the room at all the fancy people having fun. When I spotted Sanah, my first thought was how incredibly beautiful this person looked. I didn’t know we would soon be dancing next to one another. I didn’t know that a beautiful friendship would begin. Sanah Jivani is simply amazing. She talks to teens about how to love themselves in spite of bullying, pressure, and a culture of social media. To do this- completely do this- Sanah challenges kids to make a list of what scares them the most and then to create a dream board of all they desire. The story of her foundation inspired my students to use the best words, the kindest words to fill their heads so that they were their kindest to themselves. International Day of Self Love is February 13- the day before Valentine’s Day. Sanah challenges people to look for what holds them back from doing something they want to try and to take a step of faith. We find inspiration from this amazing story. The foundations’ goal is to give people courage to act and to love ourselves before we celebrate loving others. Sanah tells her story. Sanah shares all the beautiful and dark parts of her soul with others. Sanah makes herself vulnerable over and over and over again because she has learned the value of turning the darkest parts of pain into something that shines light for others. I invited Sanah to come to Americus last year. She spent the weekend with my family. Through our conversations and her testimony, I was inspired to act with purpose- to publish this blog. Jeni and Laura helped me name it. I launched I’m Still a Goose on February 13 in honor of Sanah and the International Day of Self Love. This deadline put everything into focus, and I had a goal I understood. I faced up to the fear of what might happen if I dared to write. I decided to straight up love my crazy self and this crazy goose name and this crazy idea. I just needed the encouragement. God was singing to my heart. My question of love for you is this: What is it you want? What is that thing that has been sitting on your soul that you have pushed away because of fear, timing, or energy? Be encouraged to do it. To try it. To fail. To not fail. To fly like a goose with a million honks driving you forward. Be encouraged to do it now- to move forward in faith. Let me remind you today: You may be afraid of something. You have nothing to fear. Ask God to sing to your heart. Psalm 31:24 Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord!
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JoAnna Arnold
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