Metaphor: My Life As a Chapter In a Book

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine about how about 8 weeks ago; I realized metaphorically speaking that writing the end of a chapter in your life is a lot harder than it seems. At the beginning of January as I processed the last year or two, I found myself not really being able to fully describe what was going on because I was anticipating the next chapter to begin and dreaming of the stories to come. As I look back on the past 2 years of my life living in Denver, Colorado it has been amazing. I have matured so much which means that I have grown tremendously. I have had more ups than downs, and honestly struggled at times with not knowing how my rent was going to come in and even how to get more people to financially support me as I live in the United States as a missionary. However, through all of my struggles God never left my side and He always provided financially for all of my needs. Through my struggles I learned to trust Him and I learned to lean on Him for strength. For all of the times that were good, I grew in confidence in the woman I am and I grew in self-discipline/ self-control. And the more I put situations in God's hands, the more I would laugh and smile. The joy of the Lord was truly my strength. And this joy was and continues to be contagious. Now as this new chapter has begun the joy from God continues to be my strength. Joy continues on into this chapter.

In the past I have been frustrated that my close friendships would always seem to be in my life for about 2 year increments. However, I recently realized that the reason why those friends only were in my life for about 2 years was because I was beginning a new chapter of my life and they were going in another direction, therefore leading them out of the chapters of my life. This even applies to my last dating relationship, which also lasted around 2 years. While pondering this fact of my close friends being in and out of my life every 2 years, I wondered how I would be able to get married and even wondered if I had something emotionally wrong with me. But actually God revealed to me that as I stated before, those friends of mine and I were going in the same direction at the same time, but then our lives were calling us in different directions. And as for my future husband, God will be always leading us down similar paths and no matter what we are committed to each ... For better or worse better, In sickness and health, For richer or poor richer, Until death we will part.

Speaking of "better or better", that is where I begin to write this next chapter of my life. This past week we had our annual staff conference and I have committed to be on staff for another 2 years. I do not know what it will look like for these next 2 years on staff other than learning more in leadership. However, in my personal life I will be bettering myself in health, life skills, passions, God given dreams and desires, and other things. I am so excited about these things to come, because they are things I have put aside for a time and now I feel like God is strongly encouraging me to pick up those things that I have put aside. I have no idea what it will look like, but I do know that my commitment on staff is more important than these things that I will be pursuing aside from "work time". I am excited to see what doors of opportunity open up and what doors close. Another thing that is great, is that as I am bettering myself in all aspects of life, I will also be bettering those around me and the campus that I volunteer at. I am so excited for these next two years and I love fantasizing about what may come out of my dreams and passions. :-)