Tag: hope

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Sweet Dreams

It’s crazy to think about how many people die with their dreams. So many people leave this earth without sharing their gifts. So many people depart without telling a single soul their hearts’ ambitions and desires. One of my biggest fears is that that’s how I will end up – dying together with my many dreams.

People die at all ages, but it’s often especially devastating when a young person passes away. You often hear things like: “He had so much life ahead of him; he barely got a chance to live.” or “She had so much potential and so many plans.”  In actuality, these statements could be made about “older” people who pass away as well. A lot of people die with their potential and take all the “plans” they wanted to accomplish on Earth with them, partly because of fear and also because many of us spend the time we do have here barely living, as if we have all the time in the world to start or as if we are already dead.

I’ve realized that if we’re not careful, our sweet dreams can easily become our beautiful nightmares. When the dreams that we spend hours upon hours fantasizing about start to seem as though they will only ever be just dreams and fantasies, those dreams can slowly start to become torturous. The reality of this beautiful nightmare is why I have to constantly remind myself to protect my mindset and strive to combat fear with faith and action. I know that I need to allow my aspirations to be sources of motivation and encouragement; however, I frequently find myself becoming deterred and discouraged when I think about my many dreams and how impossible they sound. But I have to believe that my dreams and passions have been laid on my heart for a reason, no matter how unrealistic or unattainable they may seem. And I can’t just believe, I have to also do. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (James 2:26).” I have to persistently take steps towards my dreams, no matter how small those steps may be. And when I don’t see results right away, I have to muster up the faith and strength to persevere.

What’s impossible for someone else can be possible for me. The amazing fairy-tales in my head can in time become my amazing reality.

Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.”

                                                                                – Habakkuk 2:2-3

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I’m Getting Ready

I’m getting ready to shed the skin that has been encasing a fearful soul.

I’m getting ready to awaken the dormant spirit that has left me numb and dull.

I’m getting ready to accept imperfection and drown every debilitating fear.

I’m getting ready to allow for every therapeutic tear.

I’m getting ready to breathe for the very first time.

I’m getting ready to experience what happens when faith and action combine.

I’m getting ready to uncover what has been kept hidden.

I’m getting ready to invest in every gift I have been given.

I’m getting ready to evict the lies that have made homes in my head.

I’m getting ready to be shocked by all that lies ahead.

I’m getting ready to reap the fruit of life that hangs from sacred trees.

I’m getting ready to make the most of each moment and embrace more opportunities.

I’m getting ready to strengthen and use my voice.

I’m getting ready to love, because there is no other choice.

I’m getting ready to live – live bold and free.

I’m getting ready to live authentically me.

I’m getting ready to strive and find ways to soar.

I’m getting ready to carry out what I’ve been created for.

 

However, as it is written: 
“No eye has seen, 
no ear has heard, 
no mind has conceived 
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

                                                                               – 1 Corinthians 2:9

 

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26

For my birthday last week, I treated myself to my first ever solo trip! I went to Playa del Carmen, Mexico and spent about five days on a resort there. I ended up meeting a lot of nice people and got to do some fun activities for the first time like parasailing, jet-skiing, and zumba on the beach. I would wake up each morning feeling so blessed to be in such a beautiful, relaxing, and peaceful environment. I thoroughly enjoyed being on my own, doing whatever I wanted to do whenever I wanted to do it. Nevertheless, throughout the trip, I was struck with a few realizations.

I realized that as I’ve gotten older, I may have gotten a little too accustomed to being alone. Don’t get me wrong, I think alone time is wonderful and necessary; however, I think that I’ve spent so much of my life isolating myself and basically living in my own world, that I’ve become too comfortable with solitude – to the point where it is and has been detrimental to my well-being.

Life is not meant to be lived alone. We’re not meant to experience the joys and sorrows of life by ourselves. We’re meant to interact with each other and be there for one another. We’re meant to celebrate with each other in times of triumph and lift each other up in times of tragedy. We’re meant to exchange ideas and opinions with one another and learn from each other. We’re meant to embrace the unconditional love God has for us and extend that to anyone and everyone we can. All this being said, and believing every word of it, I still find it difficult to allow myself to open up to others and let people in.  I let the fear of people knowing my feelings, thoughts, dreams and aspirations drive me into an existence of lonesomeness and isolation. But I’ve realized that I can’t continue to let that fear keep me from making connections and building and strengthening relationships. What’s the worse that can happen? Being vulnerable will not kill me.

Another realization I had while on my trip was that I need to appreciate and celebrate my birthday more. As a child, I used to get really excited for each of my birthdays. I think that excitement stemmed from my dad’s enthusiasm when it came to birthdays, holidays, and celebrations in general. But I think as I got older and as life began to change and evolve (for instance, my dad traveling and living in Nigeria for periods of time and then later passing), the approaching of each birthday became less and less of a big deal to me. But birthdays are a big deal and they should be celebrated. The fact that you are being blessed with another year of life is something to rejoice about!

Birthdays are not just an indicator of getting older; they are a symbol of the possibility of continued growth, hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Not everyone makes it to their next birthday; and if you do, you should hold on to the hope that no matter how good or bad the previous year of your life was, this next one has the potential to be better. Birthdays are a time to reflect on God’s love and God’s love specifically for you. How amazing is it that He found it necessary to keep you? What incredible plans does He have for you? What wonderful goal does He want you to accomplish? Who’s life does He want you to touch? Who’s life does He want you to save?

You were born for a reason and you are still alive for a reason! Hold on to hope and hold on to faith, even if the rest of you has died!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

         – James 1:17-18