So, I've been really discouraged lately...my best friend Kara moved back to Dallas for school this past weekend, and soon my other best friend Christine will be moving for good to Greenville, TN to follow God's mission for her life. I know I should be extremely happy they are both really going places and following God's lead in their lives...but I can't help it...what a I supposed to do when the two people I'm closest to in this world are moving away from me...sure, maybe just a phone call away...but none-the-less...hours and hours of driving distance away. I know I'll be able to call them if I want to talk to them, and I know that it's not that they just want to leave me...but still...it isn't going to be possible for me to just pick up and drive to see them every weekend if I want to from now on...I won't get to see them as much, hug them as much, hang out with them as much...or stay nights with them while watching glee or having long conversations as much...the truth is I'll probably only see them once or twice a year now...I hate growing up.
   But I've been praying about this a lot lately...because I'm not the type to just give in to my sadness...I WILL find a way to get through this...and God is always there to pull me up and dust me off. So it's gotten me thinking a lot about things to be thankful for and productive things to do when I feel the sadness coming on. I'm thankful for my family and friends who love me...no matter where they are in the world. I'm thankful for Christ's sacrafice for my salvation, and the second chance I receive every time I ask for forgiveness, or the fact that although I may feel pain one day...the next day always brings promise of joy and renewal. I have so much to be thankful for, and truly there are so many out there who are so much more worse off than me...and true, thinking about this doesn't always help me to feel any better about my circumstances, but getting out and helping others with their problems does. I find that when I focus on the good and helping others...it gets me through the day...and keeps me fighting that much longer.
   So I guess my challenge for you is to find out what you're thankful for...and if you don't know what you're thankful for, take some time helping out others in your church or school or town that need someone with a servant's heart, and more than likely, you'll soon find lots of things to be grateful for. God's blessings are sometimes small and sometimes very big...but either way, don't let the let downs in life convince you that there are no blessings in life...no gifts to be thankful for because every day is a blessing in itself. If you're going through a rough patch like me...the best thing you can do is remember to not give up on God because He never gives up on you... (:
   God Bless& Have A Wonderful Day!!
   Love,
     Haeli