Sorry If I Sound Like a Motivational Speaker

                Embrace: to accept or support willingly and enthusiastically. This 7-letter-word has been on my heart and mind quite a bit lately. I've always known what embrace meant, but until recently, I don't think I fully understood how to embrace something, especially when that something is the season that I'm currently in. And I've quickly learned here in the last few weeks that accepting something and embracing it are two TOTALLY different things. You can always accept a situation, a person, a season without really being happy about doing it. Embracing that same situation, person, or season takes an entirely different set of abilities. I don't think anyone really knows how to explain why life goes the way it does, and more importantly I don't think anyone knows how to handle it (if we're all being honest for a minute). Being off of work with a bad case of bronchitis (yaaaay constantly changing Alabama weather) has, if anything, given me an opportunity to really sit back and think about whether or not I'm embracing where I'm at right now, or if I'm just accepting it. I didn't exactly do things the, what someone would call, "traditional" way. My 4-year degree took 5 years. I didn't do like 75% of my graduating class and get married within a year of finishing school (Okay, maybe not exactly 75%, but you get my point). I'm still trying to get my act together and figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. Life is messy and confusing and I really don't think anyone knows what they're doing half the time. So why is it that we have to be so harsh with each other? We fight and claw our way in feeble attempts to reach for "more" and "better," not caring who we hurt along the way. Now I'm all for striving for what you want and working hard and hustling to make your dreams come true, but why do we have to be unhappy in the process? Sure, I want to be married someday, but that obviously isn't the plan that God has for me right now. And you know what? I've finally decided to embrace that. Would I be able to travel to Cuba in June (and who knows where else in the future?!) to spread the love and message of Christ if I had a entire group of people depending on me? Would I be able to plan a once in a lifetime trip to Europe next year with my best friend for our 25th birthdays? Would I be able to sleep in until noon just because? Probably not. I am where I'm at for a reason. God ain't no fool, guys (please pardon the double negative, haha). He knows exactly what He's doing, even if I can only see one corner of the puzzle. Use this time in your life to its fullest potential, friends. Let God use this season and where you're at to bring you to a higher place. EMBRACE your life with open arms and wrestle that thing to ground. Love on each other. Pass out compliments like free pancakes on National Pancake Day (which is today, btw!!). Lift each other up and encourage each other to truly embrace these seasons we're in. We need each other. We were made to interact and be near one another. Embrace where you are, right now, right this second. Whether you are a fresh new college graduate with hopes and dreams for the future or a full-time mom with little ones running around you at all times, embrace it. Don't just settle for average, because you were made for more than that. Embrace the plan God has for you. You ARE more than you think you can be. Embrace it.