Okay, let's face it – I quote Audrey
Hepburn all the time. She is my all-time favorite actress, and she
was one of the classiest ladies who ever lived. She once said, “I
decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally; I never
expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seemed to accomplish
far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to
me without my ever seeking it.” I wish I could claim these words as
my own, because they describe my life.
For as long as I can remember, I just
let life happen. Whatever happened, happened, and I just went with it
as I allowed God to work. I never imagined being able to experience
the things I already cherish in my heart. I am only twenty three, and
I feel I have a lifetime of unimaginably amazing experiences that I
know many will never be able to experience. And I believe the best is
yet to come! If life would have happened according to me, I never
would have left Central Oregon and I probably would be some miserable
hairdresser, unaware of the life I could be living. Instead, I
“accepted life unconditionally” and was blessed with a million
memories.
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| My Very First Mission Trip To Jamaica |
Never once did I seek after an
adventure. Rather, the adventures found me. I can't remember the day
my adventurous spirit was born, but I remember my first big
adventure. I was fifteen when I boarded an airplane to head off to
Jamaica for the first time. I fell in love with the children. I fell
in love with the people. I fell in love with missions. Most
importantly, I fell more in love with Christ as He taught me to serve
His precious people. I went home ready to serve! I just wanted to do
whatever I could for God. Within the next year, I was involved with
all sorts of things: youth group outreach, volunteering at different
ministries, and whatever I could possibly get my hands on all to
return to the people who captured my heart. I continued down that
path up to my graduation. Then I was off to Uganda. I cannot even
begin to explain what that opportunity brought me. God completely
changed me, and I came home knowing my life would be much different
than I ever imagined. Life “just happened to me without my ever
seeking it.” What a great adventure, and that is just up to age
eighteen!
I cherish so many memories, so many
faces stored away in my heart, and I can only thank my Savior for
giving me a willing heart. Because I am able to simply accept life as
it happens, God has more of a chance to move through me. If I were to
hold onto my own plans, God must fight against me... please, do not
get me wrong! There have been plenty of times where I stood up to God
and told Him, “my way or the highway, Buddy!” But, when I just
take life as it happens, God moves! He is able to work through me. He
can touch lives that need His precious love. I am able to experience
“far more than I ever hoped.” I thank God for such an
opportunity!
Although I may not be as classy as
Audrey Hepburn, I am able to relate to those words she said long ago.
I can look back on my life with a smile, knowing I held nothing back,
and experienced more than I ever could have imagined possible!
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| My Life Today |
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