Finally! It's Done!

First of all, let me say that I have never been a quitter, however, in this situation I must calmly bow out.  I have been a competitor for the majority of my life.  I began competing in gymnastics sice the age of 6 and I have traveled everywhere competing on many different levels in this sport.  From gymnastics I transitioned to Cheerleading my sophmore year in High School.  Even then, cheerleading became much more to me than a seasonal football or basketball game.  I fell in love with the competition of the sport.


 

I found out pretty early on in my life that something in me is motivated by  competiton.  My drive, motivation and perserverance is charged at the thought of giving it my all and acknoweldging that I worked hard to get where I am  or was.  However, I have quickly learned that this is not anything like what I have experienced in the beginning stages of my life. 

When one contemplates quitting many things must come to mind before the action takes place.  For me, I quickly realized how pointless it would be to remain in the competition when ultimately I would lose out anyway.  About 7 years ago I began to realize that my life was not going where I planned.  I had a story book childhood filled with laughter, great memories and love.  Even as I reflect on high school I have no complaints.  I was surrounded around great friends, involved in many community events and was even given freedom to be "me."

It was not until 7 years ago when I realized that the life I had been living would soon come to an end.  It was then that I realized that Jesus was requiring me to lay down my life and choose a life of servitude.  From that point on until today I have quit my old life wiith no regrets.

I am grateful that this was the decison that God made for my life.  Many still can't understand how someone like me has decided to live this life according to God's word.  However, the decision I made was quite easy.  I soon wanted my desires to be the desires of God's and I wanted my life to live fulfilling the word of God.

My heart began to change and my will broke unto this new form of living.  I experienced a heart transplant and it was one of the major turning points in my life.  David said it best, "Create in me a new heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."  My new heart has allowed me to look at the decisions of my life differently. 

And that is why this adoption journey is so important to me.  I keep hearing the word of God say "Defend the poor and the fatherless: do justce to the poor and the needy."  And if you continue to read Psalms 82 you will see that it is important to use the power that God has given us to do good.  I firmly believe that where someone is born should not dictate their  destiny. 

And that is why God commands us to love the least of these. Unfortunately, many orphans, an estimated 5 million, have the cards stacked against them. Once God opened my eyes to this I couldn't turn back.  My heart goes out to the children that are orphaned no matter the reason. 

As Mother's Day is celebrated tomorrow I can't help but to think of the mother of those 5 million orphans.  Many of the mothers chose to relinquish their child or children so that they could have the possibility of life.  I have learned that as I advocate for the orphaned children my heart is overwhelmed for the parents involved as well.  So with that this quote comes to mind:

I am only one, but I am one.

I cannot do everything,

but I can do something.

And I will not let what I cannot do

interfere with what I CAN do.

~Edward Everett Hale

I love living my life to serve, worship and to open my heart to the least of these.....