With an hour and two minutes left of my birthday, I sit here thankful for all the beautiful people that are in my life and the wonderful activities that occurred in the last 22 hours and 58 minutes of the 27th of March 2012, and in the last year since March 27, 2011.
It has been a whirlwind of a year. This year has been a year of shaping and growing and changing. Even though at points, it was difficult and painful, it was beautiful all the same.
Here are some of the things that have changed and that I have been shaped in/by:
- In a relationship to single and spent the last 11 months in this stage of life!
- Transitioned from a junior in college to a senior
- RA in the upperclassmen apartments, now to the freshmen dorms
- prideful and harsh, to a more gentler, moldable me (still could use some major improvements on this one).
- lonely and friendless to deep, intimate friendships
- more active in my church body
- scared of even a conversation with the opposite gender outside of a “relationship,” to great, God-glorifying friendships with many brothers in Christ, which I am so thankful for by the way
- through church, various members, and pastor, through different classes and the challenge of my professors, I am better able to articulate what I believe and the new things I am learning
- also through those classes, I understand the point of education and am excited to extend that long after my college graduation in a month (on MAY 5!!!) and broader than a single subject or major
- Began to understand what it means to be an adult and independent, but also have learned how to be interdependent and to lean on my community to lead me closer to Christ as I lead others closer to Christ through honestly, love, discipline, and encouragement
- changed from a person with lazy habits in studying and knowing scripture to an understanding of the urgency and importance of deeply knowing scripture and the Word of God
- been more deeply challenge in understanding the unsearchable riches of the gospel
- and many, many more!
This year truly has been difficult, but it has also been one of the most beautiful and rich years of my life. I have formed friendships that will last a lifetime. I have begun habits that will continue on outside of college. I have learned better what is important in life. I have recognized my deep need for Christ!
Thank you everyone who took the time to wish me a happy birthday today, who wrote me a kind note, planned a birthday surprise, took time out of their day to spend time with me, has expressed their love toward me, who bought me flowers, balloons, gifts, etc., and so much more! I am beyond thankful and I really don’t know how to thank you all adequately.
The biggest gift that you all could give me is that you come to a knowledge of Christ – whether that is for the first time, or that you grow closer to him in your faith, and begin to be changed by him (if you have questions about that, I’d love to chat with you)!
Anyways, that is all for now.
Thank you, everyone!
To Be Continued… =)
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