lifewithomg

I love my family. They mean the world to me! I value their opinions and cherish every moment that we spend together. That being said, I never actually realized just how much we were alike until we were under the same roof for a family gathering.

My grandmommy is my absolute favorite. We’re so much alike, we even share the same middle name! In February 2017, she went on to be with our Heavenly Father. She had a heart for people and made everyone feel as though they were loved! She treated everyone like family and welcomed all to her home. She was an amazing woman and I am so honored to carry her legacy.

As she grew older, we started noticing that her memory wasn’t what it used to be; the major changes in her behavior started around the same time that I dropped out of college, so uncertain with the path I should take. Flexibility became a familiar luxury in my work schedule, so I often visited her several times a week. Every time I would stop by, without fail she would ask me how school was and every time I would say, “actually Grandmommy, I took this semester off of school until I can figure out what to do next.” She would look me straight in the eye, snap her fingers and say, “Do it, Honey!” Sometimes I would intentionally go to her house just for encouragement! Even though her memory sometimes failed her, the genuine love she had for her family and people did not. Looking back, I realize now that if I had never taken the semester off to focus on myself, I wouldn’t have been around to spend time with the only grandmother I’ve ever known in her last days. Isn’t God amazing?!

A good friend of mine recently preached an awesome word titled, “God’s Plan”. He told a story of when he was 7 years old, God told him that he was going to be a preacher. He didn’t think anything of it because he liked football and planned on being in the NFL. I sat in my seat thinking, “Man, I JUST figured out what I wanted to do and God told him more than 10 years ago!” In that instant, I was reminded of when I told my mom that I wanted to write a book about myself when I was elementary school. She said “go for it!” So I did. I wrote down three sentences. I read the lines almost a dozen times and hated it so much that I deleted the document and stormed up the stairs, never looking back again. Even at such a young age, I was discouraging myself. God had placed writing on my heart LONG ago, but I didn’t entertain the thought long enough to discover I loved it. When was the last time you felt something pressing on your heart, but you gave up before you even tried?

I love that I have finally found something that I’m passionate about. God has opened so many doors for me since I started taking my writing seriously and embracing it as a gift and not a hobby. I was so scared that no one was interested in what I had to say, so even if one person read my stuff, I was impressed with myself (and still am).

It’s true that the choices we make will dictate our future. There’s power in our words. When will we finally stop listening to the voices of the enemy and tune in to the One that created us? The voices that say you’re not smart enough, pretty enough, talented enough… that is not of God. We are created in His image! Why would an Artist criticize their masterpiece? He is the potter and we are the clay. When we were created He shaped us all individually, breaking the mold between you and I. Just like snowflakes, no two are the same! We were each given special talents and it’s our job to use them!

Stop. Have you been listening? Is there something that God placed on your heart long ago that you just dismissed or lost hope in? Don’t miss out on an opportunity for God to work in your life, as well as the lives of others. Take the leap of faith and just ‘do it honey’!

Aspiring to be like Joyce Marie,

OMG