The Unashamed Introvertish Girl Blog

On May 26, the cool breeze from the window beside my bed pushed through my thick curtains and hit my face, waking me up from a probably not so deep sleep.

It's almost like I went to sleep one night in August of 2013, woke up, and it was graduation day. That’s how quickly it seemed to go by. Anyway, I literally woke up thanking God that day. It was really early (according to college time). It was around 6:30 a.m. and graduation was at 3:30 p.m.

A few hours later, my family and I were on 295 headed to Baltimore County. I took it all in for the last time (until I visit again), like it was the first time, even though I had my eyes closed trying to take a nap on most of the trips back to Towson from home (it was almost like the first time).

When we finally got there, we stopped by my apartment for a few minutes to finish getting ready, met some family members, then parted ways, just like when I was dropped off four years ago.

The room was overflowing with hope, excitement and humble pride. We made it! Students chatted casually discussing future plans, strangers turned friends snapped photos and everyone anticipated 3:30, most with a stomachs half anxious and half enthusiastic.

After a quick line-up, then what seemed like a long waiting period (since my last name begins with ’S’) we were in the auditorium along with those who had supported our journeys and bid us farewell not too long ago.

The excitement and feelings of joy persisted throughout the ceremony and showed up in the form of claps, shouts and grins. By the end of the ceremony and throughout the rest of the next week, those cap and gown clad butterflies flew around in our stomachs. We rode cloud nine until the last stop.

Though my butterflies have flown away and transitioned from warm feelings to tangible ideas, and my clouds have disappeared into applicable actions, I am still excited.

I hope to always be excited.

A few days before graduation, I remembered that college is like a world inside of a world. As soon as we arrive we are inspired more than we ever have been and believe more than we ever have in our ability to change the world.

Complacency, a few no’s and exhaustion can easily wipe away this mindset. I want to encourage EVERY college student a part of the class of 2017 to stay excited. Staying excited means staying inspired.

Don’t give up on the vision that God has placed in your heart. Don’t give up on the people you have always wanted to impact, and don’t give up on yourself.

You did it these past few years and you can do it for the rest of your life. I truly believe in you and the power that God has placed within you.

Jeremiah 29:11 does not expire because you graduated. I wish you the best.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

~Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

Love,

The Unashamed Introvertish* Girl

At this age, it is easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. There is so much going on from graduations to relocations to new jobs to new relationships to simply navigating adulthood. With all of these equally wonderful and time-consuming activities, it’s easy to forget why we are here.

Here’s how Jesus responded to a disciple who asked Him what the greatest command is in Matthew 22:36-40:

³⁶“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

³⁷Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’^[a] ³⁸This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b] ⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

So we're basically here to love God and serve Him by serving others and showing them His love.

At the end of the day, it’s great to have accomplished a lot, but nothing beats doing what God placed us here on earth to do. None of what life has to offer fills us like doing what God tells us to do fills us either. Jesus was so satisfied with obeying God that he likened serving Him to eating which fills our physical bodies. He said:

³⁴Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

Many of us cling to our worldy successes and possessions because we believe that they are what gives us life and livelihood. However, what the world has to offer is nothing compared to what God has to offer.

This is not to say that we should look at our successes and materials in a negative light from here on out, but in the right context. The context of using them to serve God and His people. For example, we can use what we learn in school to help someone younger than us who may be having a hard time academically. We can use our new homes to host events for our church or community. We can use our Godly relationship to be an example to others who hope to one day be in our shoes. Proverbs 11:25 says:

The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself.

God blesses us to bless others. Remember the young rich ruler who was desperate to serve God. God didn’t say he was a sinner for being blessed, instead he asked him to use his blessings to uplift the kingdom of God. Here's a little bit of how that convo went in Matthew 19:21:

²¹Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

So in the process of going about life, being blessed and highly favored by a loving God, let us not forget the bigger picture, the whole reason why we’re here and for Whom we live.

I know. A lot of things are easier said than done. Let us pray, ask God to help us see our lives through His eyes, and have faith to live life the way He intended for it to be lived.

Let us stay in context.

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )

There's Something I've Been Meaning To Tell You..

An Open Letter to the Class of 2017 (De La Soul)

In Case You Missed It...

Pressing On & Our First Exclusive Digital Meet-Up (21 The Blog Series)

An Everyday Thing (21 The Blog Series)

My Way vs. God's Will (21 The Blog Series)

About me

Subscribe to Never Miss a Post!

Search This Blog

Tweet Tweet

Labels

Sponsor

There's Something I've Been Meaning To Tell You..

An Open Letter to the Class of 2017 (De La Soul)

In Case You Missed It...

Pressing On & Our First Exclusive Digital Meet-Up (21 The Blog Series)

An Everyday Thing (21 The Blog Series)

My Way vs. God's Will (21 The Blog Series)

About me

Series Announcements

This Week's #NewMusicFriday Song!

Contact

A Powerful Playlist - New Music Every Friday!

Blog Archive

Popular Posts

Subscribe to Never Miss a Post!

Search This Blog

Tweet Tweet

Labels

Sponsor