Life is full of ups and downs - sometimes you're on cloud nine & sometimes you feel like you're in the fiery pits of hell. As unstable and uncertain as that is, it's life. Recently, my life took a turn for the worse and I was caught off-guard. You can bet your bottom dollar (I need to chill with my musical theatre references...) I spent a good three to four hours sobbing on my dorm room floor, eyes red, raw and puffy as can be. After I was all cried out though, I got up, fixed my messy bun, wiped away all the snot and tears, and compiled this list of things to remember when you feel the world's weight on your shoulders.
1. You're Not Built To Break.
As fragile and dainty as society, and even you might make yourself out to be, God created you to be STRONG. Psalms 28:7-8 says, "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him." Never have words been truer to me. I won't necessarily say which gender is superior, but if a zombie apocalypse were to occur, the sex left standing would have estrogen coursing through its body. The fact that we can bleed continuously for approximately a week every month for roughly forty years is an incredible feat. That's almost five-hundred periods in a lifetime ladies! Not to mention the fact that we can carry a small human being around in our wombs for nine months until we birth it out of an orifice that has to expand an immense amount...girls truly do run the world!
2. He Won't Bring You To It If He Can't Bring You Through It.
Clichés will be the death of me, but they're overused and worn out because they have a tendency to be true. Just look at Romans 8:28 - "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." When you were created, it was for a specific purpose that not a single other person could ever do. Your calling, your purpose, your gift, is unique to you and only you. The shambly pile of crap you think your life is is part of your own personal struggle that will shape you into the person you're supposed to be. Just when you think you can't take a single day more at your 9-5, or anymore of the games that that one f-boy always seems to be playing, or another teary night that seems to last forever and occur frequently, you will finally see what all that heartbreak and heartache was really for.
3. Even God Drank Wine.
Alcohol shouldn't be used to fix life's problems, but sometimes a nice average-sized glass (or bottle) of wine can help you unwind after a long day of putting up with life's bs. Of course my 18 year-old self would know nothing about the calming effects of a glass of White Zinfandel or Pinot Grigio because it's illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to consume alcohol...heh...heh...(hi mom and dad, how are you doing, I'm doing good adhering to the law, thanks for asking!), but from what my friends OF AGE have told me is that sometimes, the only thing needed to remedy a bad day is a wine glass.
4. Good Friends Are A True Rarity, But A Great Resource.
It takes someone real to be okay with you snotting all over their shoulder or pillow during a sob sesh, and still call you their friend afterward. If you find or know someone like this, hold onto them for dear life and don't let them go. When you find out mom's sick or that the love of your life cheated on you, you'll need someone there to listen to you, cry with you, and then take you to get ice cream. And this is all coming from a girl that is anti-girly 99% of the time! And if your closest friend happens to be a boy, I'm simultaneously happy and sad for you because boy best friends might be the best-worst thing to ever be.
5. It's All Right To Cry.
I can go months without crying, and then spend a whole night crying. I can also cry every night of a particularly rough week. Both are okay. Trust me, there's a strange humbling comfort in being reduced to a sobbing heap of human on your bathroom floor, and then piecing yourself back together afterwards.
6. If You Haven't Discovered Music Yet, It's Never Too Late.
Yes, I'm telling you that there are people out there who have never TRULY listened to music out there.There's a huge difference between bumping some Migos at top volume to get turnt to and meditating with some Fleetwood Mac. Both are masterpieces, but a Top 40 list of hits does no justice to the God-given miracle music is. If you're like me, music is essential to your well-being. That means that sometimes you'll need to tune (get it?) out the world and plug in those earphones. If you're ever in need of some great suggestions, holla at ya girl and I'll hook you up with everything ranging from Chris Tomlin to Elton John to KISS to Brett Eldredge to Beethoven.
7. God Loves You.
No ifs, ands, or buts about it. You were beautifully and wonderfully made by Him, and even on your darkest days, He'll be there. When you feel life crashing down around you, look to Him. That's what I do anyway.
