Hello beautiful people! So as you may or may not know, last week I celebrated my 26th birthday and this has been my most significant birthday yet. Apart from the date and my new age being the same and giving me such a cool title lol, this is my first birthday as Mrs. A (yay!)
In addition to the gift of being blessed by God with a new year to live my dreams, I also got the most priceless gift I have ever received in my life; being with my totally amazing hubs on that day. I can gush and go on and on about how wonderful my very own man is, but words will never be enough to fully describe him. Each day when I count my blessings, he is at the very top. Well let me stop right here before this entire post becomes about him lol, I’m sure you get how truly grateful I am to have him.
Before my birthday, I had been doing some deep soul searching and trying to put together resolutions for my new year; more like things I’d like to do differently and/or start doing, as I didn’t make any new year’s resolutions at the beginning of the year. I feel like setting a long list of resolutions on New Year’s Day is quite impractical, besides it being such a cliché and most people discard their resolutions by February anyway, so I just set 2 goals which I’m hoping to achieve by the end of the year.
In this New Year of my life, the very first thing I’m going for is walking in my calling/purpose. For many years, I wandered about not knowing what my purpose in life was or what I had been called by God to do and believe me when I say being in such a position is a recipe for disaster.
I ended up wasting years doing things which were unessential to my purpose, accompanied by frustration and confusion on that rocky road. I did a sharp U-turn when I came back home to my first love Jesus and at his feet, I discovered and still am learning everything I need to know about myself to fulfill my God given purpose.
To be honest, I have certainly dragged my feet about walking in my calling but I’ve had a wake-up call. Yes, I was sleeping on myself but I’m awake now. There is no point in waiting for a perfect time or moment because there is no such thing and life is happening now, so if I (you) don’t act, I’m (you’re) missing out on opportunities to be a blessing to others.
Your purpose in life is always connected to other people’s lives because whatever you do should be to the benefit of others (please check 1 Corinthians 10:24, Philippians 2:4), so just think of the number of people who are lacking something simply because you and I are running away from our calling like Jonah tried to (Jonah 1:3). There is no better time to start than now!
Walking in my calling involves me opening up a lot (which is honestly hard for me), sharing my struggles, losses and victories for the sole purpose of being a source of encouragement and motivation to someone out there. My joy and fulfillment will come from the fact that because of me, someone didn’t give up, someone got saved or reconnected to God, even if it’s just one person I can reach. One distressed woman at a time, so help me God.
For this reason, I have created an email address through which I can be contacted. I’ll insert it at the end of this post. To the best of my ability, with God being my helper, I shall attend to every single person who takes the time to contact me. I know what it’s like to so desperately want someone to talk to, mostly someone neutral but not having such a person. Having been in such a place myself and discovering there aren’t enough people you can reach out to, I decided to be that person myself. Be the change you want to see right?
Self-love & acceptance is next on my list. If you know me then you’d know how often I’ve preached on the importance of loving yourself, especially to us plus sized women. I have had a love-hate relationship with my personal image and body for years; even when I thought I was truly loving myself, I came to the realization that it was only for certain reasons, but thankfully, I have finally come to fully accept and love me just as I am, knowing that I am growing, learning and evolving daily.
I’d have to thank my husband for playing a major role here, holding my hand through it all. I no longer have a negative image of myself because I know I’m still a work in progress. So no matter what size or shape I am, no matter what level I have reached in life, I accept me totally for who I am.
I used to judge myself so hard for not being where I want to yet but I am no longer harsh or critical of my achievements or lack thereof, status, level or whatever because all of those are to my personal benefit. At this point in my life, I have rather become more concerned with how I can show others love; how I can be of help to others, how I can lighten someone’s burden or hold their hand through hard times, than on myself only.
One of the most humbling revelations God gave me a few months back was to look closely at my life and realize how He had given me everything I needed; what I didn’t have yet was on the way but I was still so self-absorbed. When I did take a step back and looked into my life, I covered my face in shame. By the grace of God, I really do have everything I need and desire, so why was I still being so selfish, so focused on me? Why was I keeping my gift to myself instead of using it as I was supposed to? This has been a reality check for me and if it is for you too, join hands with me as we make more conscious efforts to show one another love as Jesus commanded us to (John 13: 34-35).
The third and perhaps most important thing I can do for myself in this New Year is to get to know God for myself! Not that I don’t know him or have a relationship with him, but just like we desire more in regular human relationships, moving from strangers to friends, to dating then to marriage, I’ve developed a deeper desire to get to know my Father more intimately. To be even closer to him, learn more about him, spend more time with him, listen when He speaks and to do as He says.
I want more of you, Jesus. The more I know you, the more I want to know you. Jesus, more of you… – Sinach, More of You.
Sometimes we get so caught up with our lives that we tend to put him in the backseat as a passenger instead of in the driver’s seat where He belongs, being in charge. Beloved, let us always remember to put our father, God and King first. Without Him, we are not.
I am pumped about my New Year, I feel brand new, well and able to accomplish every task I set out to and hopeful that every promise God has put in my heart shall surely come to pass. Has he said, and will He not do it? Keep trusting Him!
Love always,
Mrs. A.
Birthday girl & HusBae. Live, love, laugh, a lot!
If you’re currently going through challenging times and you’d like a listening ear, some encouragement or motivation, please contact me here: talktomrsa@gmail.com
Everyone needs encouragement and I'm here to give it. 