Hey Sweet Sisters! (I’m assuming it’s mostly women who read this blog!)
One of my goals this year is to post more. I have tons of unwritten blog in my head, but they rarely make it to pen & paper, keyboard, laptop…. you know what I mean. I think it’s mainly because I feel like I have to have my thoughts all organized and perfectly planned. I wait until I have the time to sit and write everything out, exactly how and what I want it to say. But the problem is that time doesn’t come as often as I would like. The result being fewer posts.
So…. here’s to 2018. A little less perfect, and more in the moment….
I’m kinda giddy right now. I decided to take my own advice, and I did something today I believe falls under the last post, “Do What Lasts!”
But first the backstory.
Last June, I stumbled across an instagram account. I honestly don’t even remember where it started, but I’m pretty sure Sadie Robertson was involved. I will go retrace my steps at some point. But, eventually it took me to this young widow’s instagram account. I started looking through some of her posts, and two+ hours and a box of Kleenex later, I felt like I had lived her last year and half with her. I was so moved by her story that I immediately emailed her. If you’ve been here for a while, you know how much stories mean to me. Between 30 Wishes and JOY Stories… that’s the about my job that LIFES me the most!
We exchanged a few emails, and then life happened. And then hurricanes. And then Fall concerts, and commitments. And then Christmas. And, and, and.
And now it’s January, and I’ve been fighting the “Good” to do list, versus the “Do What Lasts” list! So today, I woke up with one goal. Email this sweet woman, and find a way to get her here, on our show, and to share her incredible story with all of you. So guess what? I emailed her. And she emailed me back, and I called and we talked on my way home!
We hung up and I was literally grinning form ear to ear. It took me back to the time I read Same Kind of Different As Me, and called the publisher, asking for an interview with Ron Hall. I left a message, and later that night, Ron Hall himself called me back. Denver was sitting in the front seat with him, as we were talking. On the phone. As in LIVE on the phone. Y’all, I started skipping in my kitchen. And this was before anybody had even heard me say a peep about the book. And all these years later, look at the beautiful friendship we (The JOY FM family) had with Denver, and do still have with Ron.
As I hung up with my new (soon-to-be) friend, I thought to myself, “This will be the FIRST of my trips she’ll make to see us….”
Why do I tell you all of this tonight? Welp, first, it’s because you are
my family, and when something good happens, I just can’t wait to tell YOU!! And secondly, to encourage you … I had a list a mile long to do today (still do) but you know what, I set it aside, and told myself, “there’s no blood, and nobody’s dying.” So my one goal for TODAY was to do ONE thing that would last. And I believe when we share her story, lives will be touched, healed, and inspired. This woman has been to the bottom, and she’s pointing to Jesus. Having her here with us to share her story is DOING WHAT WILL LAST.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Doing the dishes. Running Susie & Johnny to soccer, and showing up for your life IS doing what will last. But let me encourage you to try and think outside our normal to-do’s. Meaning, make that phone call. Pay for that grocery tab. Fill up that gas tank for a stranger. Or write that card. Something that will LIFE you, as you LIFE others. Because this my friends, is doing what will last. Will you take the challenge this week? And will you tell me about it when you do?
I love you!
Happy Monday!
-carmen
