After my last post about Love on a Post-It Note, it got me thinking about how much words mean to me. Don’t get me wrong, if words aren’t backed up by action, those words are meaningless. But words mean a lot to me. When I was taking pics of the most recent post-it notes my mom left for us, I decided to pull out a special folder that I keep. In it, are letters (handwritten and typed), cards and post-it notes. Words that have been so meaningful to me that I’ve kept them. I haven’t pulled them out in a long time but I grabbed them today. There are pictures my boys drew, thank you notes from parents of preschoolers I taught, family, friends, and even an acquaintance who shared her heart that had a huge impact on me.
Have any of you ever read the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman? It’s a great book and I would encourage you to read it. There is even a kid’s version that can be ordered here. If you want to order the original book, you can go to the Amazon link below to purchase.
I am definitely a words of affirmation girl (thanks Gary Chapman for confirming that 🙂 ), so it’s no surprise that words shared mean so much to me. As I pulled the cards and letters out however I didn’t expect to be filled with such emotion.
Do you ever have a tiny little nagging voice in your head questioning if you’re doing enough? Doing it right? If you’re good enough? Making an impact on others? Teaching your kids enough before they leave the nest? Helping the community? Sharing God’s love often enough?
Well as I pulled these letters out, I started crying. Not the sweet, dainty tiny tear slipping out of the corner of your eye and down your cheek. I mean the near uncontrollable ugly crying, sobbing kinda cry came out of no where. Hadn’t even read one and I was tearing up. Geesh, girl… pull yourself together. So I sat down to read them and I quickly realized why I was crying and I cried more thanking God for each and every one of these. They brought truths to the front of my mind when I needed a little reminder.
I want to be enough for everyone and often end up feeling like I’m failing someone. Coming short of someone’s expectations and disappointing them makes me feel very sad. I want to make everyone happy and I worry if there is even a slight possibility that I let someone down. Guess what? I’m enough. I’m enough for the One… the only One whose opinion really matters. God made me perfectly for what He wants me to accomplish in life.
These letters that were received anywhere from just a few days to many years years ago have me smiling as I realize even though life has thrown me a curveball forever altering my path in life, it’s still gonna be an amazing life because He knew His plan for me along.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
*************************
(These are a few thoughts shared with me throughout the letters I’ve kept.)
God gave you to me because He knew I would always find comfort in your smile and genuineness.
You are able to make such a connection with the kids- it is quite a gift. I asked my son what his favorite thing about you is, and he told me it’s when you talk to just him. I hope you know how much the kids love you. You make them feel so special.
I can see how much you love those around you and how love and kindness flows out of you. You, too, are worthy of being loved.
I have the best daughter in the world & I think God for you everyday. You are a precious gift- A God gift, one that I will always treasure.
From the first day I met you, I could tell that you would be the kind of mom that gives hugs and kisses and reads and listens, REALLY listens to your kids. But most of all, I liked you right away, because you were up front with me about your faith, and every time we interact, I can tell that it’s not just the faith that is spoken of when it’s convenient, but it’s the faith that’s lived out EVERY day.
I can see God working through you to teach me several things about myself.
What I admire most about you is how REAL you are. You don’t portray to be someone you are not, but who God designed you to be: a fun loving mom, dependable sister, caring friend, talented photographer, supportive community member, energetic teacher… the list could go on and on. Thank you for helping me realize that I need to be more real and vulnerable- open to whatever and whomever God brings into my life. Thank you for providing such a great example of a positive person living life out exactly as God has designed you to do. I am so grateful that He has put you in various places in my life.
I love how you are always smiling. You have the most positive approach to life.
One of the things I admire about you is that you have the most amazing gift of making the people you are talking to feel as if they are on a pedestal- like they are the only people that exist at that moment. You build them up and they always leave a conversation with you smiling and feeling better about themselves. In a short conversation, you put a positive spin on a person’s day- and I don’t even think you know you are doing it or the impact you are making.
**************************
Why do I share some of the words intended just for me? To save, to remind, and to encourage.
If my boys ever decide to read this blog (tomorrow or 20 years from now) the characteristics people shared about me are what I pray they remember about me. Reading about some of those characteristics that others see in me make me happy and I want to remind my boys the importance of those as they grow. I pray they absorb the positive influences around them as they create their own priorities.
Life can trip us up. Life can change us. Change can be scary. But through change, we survive. Through change, we can also thrive. Reading these letters that have spanned years and years, is reassuring to me that no matter how much in my life has changed or how I have changed, that the characteristics I value most have not. I’m still a happy, optimistic God-loving girl that others view as someone who is friendly, real and values connecting with people and building genuine relationships. Hence, the tears when I opened the folder with all the letters.
If you’re going through a tough time. If you feel like a loss or change in your life has permanently changed you, please know that not everything has changed. Things change. That’s ok. There are positives you will take from the change and become a better version of you because of it. For me, these letters reaffirmed that even though people and circumstances have forever changed me, there were many things that didn’t change at all. The personality traits and characteristics that God gave me to use for good have been with me the entire time. They never left. They may have dimmed a bit during a tough time in life but they’ve always been there. People saw me as genuine, happy, loving individual 7 years ago and people I interact with still see that today. I don’t know about you but that is incredibly encouraging.
So if you’re in the midst of the storm, hold on cause beautiful days are ahead. Everything you love about yourself will still be within you. Be ready to celebrate the sunny days ahead. It may not seem like it now, but soon you will be living life loud with a huge smile plastered across your face.
XOXOXO,
Heather
Heather is the owner of Sweet Lemonade Photography and co-owner of Sweet Darling Weddings. Life gave her a bunch of lemons (you can read a little more here) and by keeping her focus on God, finding the positive in each day, and surrounding herself with supporting, loving and encouraging people she has turned those lemons into the sweetest lemonade. This blog has been created to share her heart, her adventures and find ways to bless others. You can contact her at heather@sweetlemonadelife.com.
