The Reason: How I Discovered a Life Worth Living

The world will throw lies at you, aimed at your heart, aimed to kill.

Arise and be all that you dreamed

But God helped me understand that his heart breaks when we hurt. He helped me see his compassion and lovingkindness. He also revealed to me that he is a roaring lion of a Father who wants to end our brokenness. In fact, he became broken himself in order for us to become whole and healed and well.

Romance, friendship, leadership, and love have turned out to be so much more than I ever thought they could be. All earthly versions of these things are merely dark reflections of heavenly ones.

It was like he was saying, "Yes, I know you. I know all the things you have done. I am not shocked by any of it. Come close to me, my love, just like you are. I have already forgiven your past and future. And, if you let me, I will make you new. I will make you into all that I have planned for you. You are beautiful, my love.

turns out no one is god enough to be God except God himself.

When they finally handed me to my mother, I was small enough to fit in the palm of her hand. She said I looked like a little monkey because I was covered in hair. I was so fragile, she was scared to hold me, let alone allow anyone else to. She was afraid I’d break. Maybe this was why she was always so tough on me. Maybe she wanted to teach me to be much stronger and more unbreakable than I looked.

As a child, I looked at my grandmother the way a young girl would look at a real live princess. I hung on her every word. When she said my name or looked in my direction, I blushed and felt honored. When she praised me, I felt like everything was right in the world.