Finding That Place Full of Grace and Peace

do we really show our true selves to others//
can we embrace the real us//
do we allow others to get close// 
are we comfortable with who we are //
do we follow our hearts//

each one is the only one// 
unique//
beautiful//
a treasure//


                       Sometimes I really struggle with who I am.  As a person... a mother.. a friend...

And I wonder...
am I the only one? But I know that isn't so.

I talk to friends who hide because of the pain of life.  {It's true. Sometimes life hurts.} They are afraid of making more mistakes and of being misunderstood. Feeling inadequate and terrified of rejection.


But there is a place ..
                                     
                               a place of :

                                         ~grace, encouragement and peace~
 
Where we can be seen as we truly are. One with faults but one who is trying. One who desires good but fails sometimes. One who has talents and is learning to use them.  We are seen by One who knows our heart and will never reject us. He will affirm us and help us get through those times when we feel afraid.

He can help us embrace our mistakes and learn from them and love life and the path we're on. I wish I would have learned this so long ago. So much has been wasted. Trying to get it right every time. That makes for a very long dis-heartening journey.

He would say to us..{ You can do this! You can face this life. You can be strong in me and I am here to show you the way when you are unsure. Go for it and don't be afraid.}

He created only one of us.
Fearfully and wonderfully.
{139:14}
 
With a plan to bless us and to give us a hope and a future.
{Jeremiah 29:11}

Sometimes we think too much about our difficult circumstances or relationships! I know I do and my thoughts are often negative. And negative thoughts are usually destructive. Being mindful of our thoughts is a good thing!
{ 2 Corinthians 10: 4&5}

They can create circumstances that don't even exist, complicate our relationships and they keep us from doing what we have the gift and desire to do.

Don't second guess yourself. Make the best decision you can with what you know. And move forward with confidence and peace. If you did your best, that's what counts. If there's some way to make it better, then you've learned and you can do it differently time. It's good to allow yourself a bit if learning curve. Whatever it is that you're trying to accomplish. This has been very hard for me to learn. I was never allowed that as a child. I felt like I needed to now and do it right the first time and to this day, I can get very easily discouraged if I don't stay focused.

And enjoy being beautiful you! Our faults and failures help make us who we are. We build on them, mature and move forward.

 Some  things I've learned.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trust God and trust yourself. And keep a sense of humor about things. Most of my life I think I've taken things too seriously. These are sober times that we live in, for sure and I want to be purposeful and intentional in my living. But to dwell too much on any one thing can create a heaviness about us.

So... do your best. Believe what God says about you. He rejoices over you with song! He loves you and I more than we'll ever know or be able to comprehend. He is with us and He's rooting for us.

He's the proud Father that wants to see you and I succeed and YES! He wants us to be happy.... DILERIOUSLY happy.

So go forward in His grace knowing that you are one-of-a-kind
special and walk in the peace that you will make mistakes but He
KNEW that you would and it's ok.

Blessings to you,
Tamara <3 font="">