It's my Birthday!

 (This was originally posted on my daily blog)

 

It's my Birthday! 

Every year I try to reflect on things I learned and have accomplished. These are the things I have learned:

1. Those who matter won't mind, and those who mind won't matter. 

I can't stress enough how true this is. When I reflect on my friendships from years ago compared to those I have now, a clear pattern emerges. The friends who have stayed through thick and thin, regardless of how I may have stumbled along our journey, are the ones who remain steadfast and our friendship has only grown stronger. On the other hand, those individuals I once believed held great significance in my life often vanished at the first sign of a misstep or when they perceived that I no longer held the same importance in their eyes.

2. Don't take things for granted. Appreciate what you have.

I can't emphasize the importance of this. We don't realize how much something matters to us until we lose them. For example, when I lost my trees... yes, they were always there for me, but I never realized how important and how much they would affect me with their presence. 

I try to cherish each relationship and everything I have.

3. Be Positive.

I wasn't aware of the effects of being negative till I met a very negative person. She actually "had it all" a job, a house, a family and friends, yet she will complain that God did her bad because of a few inconveniences. God definitely spoke to me while I tried to convince her that she should be focusing on the good she has. 

Her negativity resulted in her family leaving her and her friends ignoring her calls. 

I learned through her that it is okay to complain but at the same time, look for the good.

4. Trust God

This has been tough for me, but I have learned to trust God in all circumstances. I also learned that He is the only one who cares about me more than anyone or anything in the world. 

5. It is okay to Lament.

Throughout the past year, God has shown me that I can lament and complain to Him because He cares (there is a WHOLE book in the bible called Lamentations!). A lot of times, I have considered complaining to friends... (who care about me) but there is only so much they can do, BUT God is different, He cares and He can do something about our circumstances and suffering, so why not run the best source.

The media doesn't talk about this enough, but when the premier of Nova Scotia cried out to God (regarding the horrifying wildfires engulfing the province in May/June) God answered and He extinguished them.

I take these lessons to me as I move on to next year. filled with hope and living through God's promises for me. May I grow another year wiser :)

Thanks for your support for this blog and for me this year <3