Why Goodbye?

I don't like saying 'goodbye'. It's a part of change and growing up, but I don't like it. I don't think anyone really likes it either. It's one of those things where you are happy for the person leaving because they get to experience something new, start the beginning of the rest of their life, but it leaves you with an ache in your heart for the days gone by. 
I just said goodbye to a dear friend today. I know I will see her again one day, and I'm excited for her, but I feel that a small piece of me will leave with her when she goes back home. After seeing her one last time, I went off to be by myself and thought about it for a while. Why do there have to be so many 'goodbyes'?
It didn't take long for me to receive the answer:
      To make room for so many more 'hellos'. Goodbye is not the end, it's only the beginning of more good things to come.
I just need to keep reminding myself of this.
There are a lot more goodbyes coming up.

"Say What You Need to Say"

Have you ever wanted to tell someone something, but were too afraid to actually tell them? 

You were afraid of what they might think of you, so you didn't say anything? 

You figured that they accepted how you were already, so if you said anything contrary to how they already thought of you, it would 

make them question whether they really wanted to get to know you after all? And because of all of this running through your head, you couldn't be yourself around them?

Ugh... Isn't it frustrating? Why do we care so much about what others think of us? 
D o e s    i t    r e a l l y    m a t t e r    t h a t     m u c h  ? 

I'm sure if you were to go around the room and ask several people, the answers would be similar. Everyone has dealt with this in one way or another.

       "What will they think of me if I say this?" 

                     We tend to put ourselves into a box when we do this.  

                Limiting 

                                      ourselves and those around us too.

I've never really thought about that before... But really. 

You are not only limiting yourself when you don't speak up, but you're also limiting those around you by not sharing your thoughts. 

You're building a wall around yourself that others can't get through.


So my charge to you is this:

Don't worry about what others may think of you. 
If you have something to say, share it with them. "Just do it." 

   

Be bold.

We need to encourage one another in this. Build each other up, and not tear down.
 If someone needs cheering up, be that person who goes out of the way to lift them up.

This is something I have to work on too, so you're definitely not alone in this. ;)

November

Sigh...
I cannot believe it is already November. Where have the past three months gone? My third semester of college is almost over, and I feel at a loss. Where did all the time go? What was I doing to make it all fly by so fast? Don't get me wrong. I love the holiday seasons, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years... It just seems like they get here faster every year.
Well, I didn't start this post so it could become all depressing-like...
Let's see. I want to do something different. I want to see if anyone is actually reading this... ;) I know I don't get a lot of views, I never can seem find something to write about. So, I shall pose a question (or two) to whoever is reading this. (Answer in a comment)

http://www.justgetout.net/blog/AndyDappen1/site/filteredlist/?key=fall+colors

#1. What is your favorite thing about the month of November?
              
#2. What is your traditional Thanksgiving like? If it's even traditional at all ;)




Let's see... My answers would be:
      #1. The beautiful fall leaves. The crisp, cool air.  Just thinking about November, I picture a lot of reds, yellows and oranges, hot apple cider, and pumpkin pie.
      #2. Hmm... I don't think I've had a traditional Thanksgiving. Well, I guess it would be traditional in the sense that we've always eaten turkey, but other than that, it's been slightly different every year. One thing though, we never watch football... I'm just really not that into football. 


Ok, now.... Go!

Gianna Jessen Abortion Survivor in Australia Part 2

Here's the second half.

Gianna Jessen Abortion Survivor in Australia Part 1

This woman's testimony is amazing!!

Love is...

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.  But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.  Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  And now these three remain:  faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13 - NIV

Close Your Eyes. And Listen.