Stay _________. Be ______.

If you saw how I ended my last blog post, you'll know this looks familiar. I want to share something about it that not many people know about. I don't think anyone knows about it, really.

I like to journal, and I used to journal a lot especially last year. I have gone through quite a few pages throughout my years of middle and high school. Many emotion filled papers; some joyful and some sorrowful. But about two years ago I started ended my journals in the new year with a saying, "Stay free. Be joy." That was the year I was in the pursuit of becoming more myself and being comfortable in my own skin. I was determined to stay free like I knew my soul was and to grow in being joyful like I knew my heart could be. Towards the end of the year that notion had become pretty fulfilled and I was okay with who the God of the universe had created me to be. I used to be so incredibly self-conscious in middle school to the point where it was unhealthy. I would constantly wonder what the "popular" girls were wearing so I would fit right in and not be thought of to be "weird", when in reality, if I "fit right in" I wasn't standing out to people by any means. No one noticed me. I was just that girl that looked like everyone else when I didn't even want to dress that way. I had my own style but hadn't realized it yet. That's why this phrase was so vital for me in high school because it allowed me to become unapolagetically myself. Today I dress how I feel and bellbottoms with free-people attire is often how I indeed feel.

The following year I ended my journals with the phrase, "Stay thriving. Be peace." I wanted to pursue thriving in who I was and in enjoying the present while also pursuing peace of which I knew was necessary for my life (as you know). I enjoyed the present and the moment I was in as much as I could, but peace was difficult to grasp throughout junior year because of the rigor of classes I was taking, and the heartache I was facing from broken relationships. I have found peace however this year. God does that sometimes. He knows what we are in pursuit of but He puts us through the tough spot to make us understand what He's got. If we don't go through the hard experiences first we won't grow into the better person He wants to mold us to be in those circumstances.

Finally, this year, my phrase has been "Stay Encouraging. Be Strong." This has a deeper meaning and a bigger backstory about encouragement that I will share later on, but encouragement is a very large part of my life. I am passionate about encouraging others in whatever it may be, so I wanted to pursue that part of my heart while simultaneously staying courageously rooted in the Lord while He keeps me strong in guarding my heart. That is why I am going to end all my blog posts with this phrase.

A deeper meaning behind a simple word or phrase is waiting on you too. Just create a word you want to work at, are passionate about, or desire to pursue, and go for it. God works in funny ways and when you hold that phrase tight and repeat it daily, whether it be in a journal or simple prayer, He will bring you the development in your character and heart to grow you into a better you. He provides strength. He is for you, and He pursues you. He has helped me throughout these years of phrases, and He is sure to help you too. The Lord gives guidance if you want it, and when the going gets tough, don't give up. Sometimes that's Gods way of saying "wait". His plans are greater, and you're more amazing than anything anyone else says.

If y'all need anyone to talk to, message me. I'm here for you and to pray for you. Always.

Stay Encouraging. Be Strong.

mw