Sparklers & Celebrations

Sometimes you've just got to bring out the sparklers and put them to good use. Or buy a box of Purdy's. Or spend a good chunk of time walking around the garden, breathing in the scents of the outdoors and the freshness of Spring. My goal right now is to celebrate just that: the right now. I've struggled in the past with living in the moment, where I have tended to plan everything out into something structured and organized (and there is nothing wrong with planning and being organized! Everyday I make an agenda and a list of goals.) But I've come to the realization that God is good RIGHT NOW. No matter what my day looks like, He is good in this very moment, and THAT is something worth celebrating. Tomorrow holds its own good things, challenges, moments to build character, but TODAY holds beautiful things that are worth my time and focus. 

"How many are your works, Lord. In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small." Psalm 104: 24 & 25

" Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1

Much love, Vivi

on being brave and courageous

I've decided to start a new series called "on being..."

And today, it's on being brave and courageous.


Brave.

More and more I'm seeing that being brave couldn't be less of a cookie cutter action. Bravery is so versatile. You are brave when you study for a challenging class. You are brave when you forgive someone who has hurt you. You are brave when you are kind and compassionate despite opposition.

It's Rosa Parks, a beautiful and bold black woman who decided to sit in the "whites only" section of the bus, taking a stand for equality of all races.
It's the child who stands up for a peer who's being picked on for being "too small" or "too large" or "too anything"
It's the man who lets his tears shed regardless of the voices telling him to be a "man"

For me, it's doing what I know in my heart to be right and true and good.
It's being comfortable in my own skin and being kind to myself.
It's having faith for healing when I'm hurting, restoration in brokenness.

Brave.

Be brave, friends. Whatever bravery looks like in your life, no matter how small or large the actions, be brave. Bravery is a precious gift, take it by force. Most of all, don't go it alone, trusting in your own strength. Been there, done that, not successful. Go to Jesus. He is the source of all bravery and courage.

Brave. It's in Him.

Much love, Vivi