There is so much going on in the world right now. Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fires, mudslides, and multitudes of senseless crimes are being seen around the world in epic proportions. It has led me (and I am sure you as well) to ask the question WHY?  Why all the pain and suffering we see daily? What is the purpose? When being inundated with information it is so easy to get swept away into the media frenzies which keeps us aware but also causes residual trauma from overexposure. When you log out of social media for the day and turn off the TV; how are you dealing with your own personal trials and struggles? How are you processing both what you have taken in and what you are personally experiencing?  Life has a way of bringing issue after issue and before you can catch your breath and recover yet another issue has hit you.

In my personal journey I have experienced so many trials and I have asked God, WHY? Why is it always something? Why can I never catch a break? Do I really have to experience all of this? What is the point? It seemed as if God had placed me in a pit and the more I tried to dig myself out the harder it became to see the light of day. It wasn’t until I decided that I could not walk this journey alone that I was able to empower myself to no longer be a victim but rather use my struggles as a testimony to others. There is no shame in admitting that you cannot do it alone. There is power in transparency and asking for help. Sometimes, your prayer needs to transform from “Lord move this mountain” to “Lord give me the strength to climb”. I cannot tell you why you are experiencing that pain. I cannot answer why we are seeing such tragedy in the world; but what I know for sure is that you are not alone. God gives us one another to lean on in our times of weakness. If you find that you are struggling please reach out to a trusted family member, friend, minister, and/ or counselor. You do not have to walk this journey alone. You never know who is watching you and depending on your testimony to get them through their own personal journey.

Ecclesiastes 4:10-12 “If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

If I am being honest, I must admit that I love butterflies and they hold a very special meaning for me. The butterfly for me represents hope and new beginnings. Butterflies come in all shapes, sizes, and colors; and they are each beautiful in their own way. But before we get to enjoy and admire the butterfly’s beauty we should acknowledge the process.  We have all heard the story of how a caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly; the caterpillar eats and eats until it is time to cocoon itself and wait for a radical transformation. But how does the story of the caterpillar translate to your life? Consider what the caterpillar has gone through prior to being able to test out those beautiful wings. The caterpillar has to sacrifice who it is in order to become what it was created to be. In our lives, we face a multitude of challenges, some that are self-imposed and others that were imposed upon us. Some of us have experienced hurts and pains that are unspeakable and often remain unspoken. From childhood we search for meaning, purpose, love, fulfillment, joy, acceptance. Our past may often hinder us from stepping out on faith and allowing God to reveal the purpose He has for our lives.  I compel you to ask yourself- What is it going to take for me to transform from who I am today to who God has called me to be? Your journey can begin as soon as you are ready. Your wings are waiting for you!

We live in a world that is constantly on the move. We hit the snooze button a few times on our alarm and then we jump out of bed to start a day that is go-go-go until we fall into bed at night just to start all over again in the morning. I dare you to pause for just a second and consider- What have you done today to take care of you? Think about that. When was the last time you sought out to do something that prioritized your wellbeing? On those days when you feel stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, and downright run down; do you feel guilty for wanting time to rejuvenate yourself? We have been conditioned to think that the care of self is selfish. It is important to remember that you can’t give away what you don’t have. If you push yourself until you have nothing left to give, you aren’t much good to yourself or anyone else. It is ok to take time for yourself. It is ok to admit that you can’t do it all. It is ok to ask for help. When you neglect to give your mind, body, and spirit the attention it needs you are limiting your access to having a healthy and fulfilled life. I challenge you to find what you need in order to fall in love with taking care of yourself- Mind. Body. and Soul.