Acceptance

My Bible usually opens to Ecclesiastes when I plop it open. I guess it’s because it’s in the middle. It also happens to be one of my favorite books. It gives me a lot of freedom because the book's main message is, “Everything is meaningless.” Haha. For sure takes all the pressure off. 

This foggy Saturday morning, it once again opened to Ecclesiastes. I decided to just read it. I read Chapter 5, and something new stuck out to me this morning. “To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life-this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past”.

To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life. 

How can I find joy in work again? See it as an opportunity that gives purpose and not another task. Something I get to do.

Accept my lot in life. Accept what’s been placed before me. Accept my circumstances. What good do longing and complaining do?

I do believe God hears us when we call on him. But we can also learn to accept what’s in front of us. 

The last sentence particularly stuck out to me. “No time to brood over the past.”

I felt called out. I mean, that’s kind of what I’ve been doing the last few months. Looking at the past. Trying to remember who I was, to inform who I am. 

This is saying I would enjoy life more if I stopped analyzing the past. If I lived in the present and enjoyed what is in front of me.

A slap in the face but nonetheless true. 

Everything has changed. I get to accept these changes. As I relearn who I am, I get to take what’s in front of me and run with that.

Instead of brooding over who I used to be. 

I guess I’m learning, as Thomas Rhett says, “Life changes.”

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Life has many disappointments. This week, I thought I would get passed to drive. My 6-month seizure law was up. I’ve been told by doctors for months that as soon as the 6 months were up, I’d be good. However, when I went in confidently to make sure everything was good to go, I was quickly let down. They told me I should drive with a licensed driver and that they wouldn’t recommend I drive at all.

My dream of being independent was quickly halted. I had put my everything into being independent. Got excited for it to change my world—the final step towards normal. But, patience. Patience. It’s only temporary. You’ve come so far.

Oh, how I’m tired of being preached patience.

Trust me, I know I need it right now.

But as this triggered everything that has disappointed me the past 6 months, I found Ecclesiastes. Enjoy my lot in life. Accept the circumstances, disappointing as they may be, and find the joy in front of me. God’s trying to help me along the way.

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With it being a week before I move back to school, I sent a series of questions to my friends, hoping to get back a response. 

What are you excited for?

What are you nervous about?

How can I support you?

I wanted to know what their answers were. We rarely ask these types of questions, but knowing each other’s answers is really important in friendship. 

We have to know this stuff to build true relationships. And that’s what I’ve always wanted: community. 

To be honest, I also asked these because I knew I would need to share my answers as well. Something I’m trying to get better at naturally, but sometimes you have to script stuff first. 

I challenge you to ask your friends questions. Maybe it doesn’t look exactly like mine, but saying the words is really healthy- even if it hurts. 

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To end this week's Newsletter, I’m including a song that hit differently today. Ever had that experience?

Till next week - Bek