ARB FRIDGE

You are not them. You are not your family. You do not have to be trapped into their footsteps or their habits. I’m so sick of being afraid of picking up the bad traits of my family. I’m so sick of being stressed because I feel like I can never impress them.
My best friend since we were two has come to church every once and a while with me growing up but this summer she gave her heart to God and she’s absolutely amazing. However, one day she came and told her Dad something exciting that happened at a youth event and his response was “You can’t believe everything you hear at church.” When she told me this she was crying, she…being a girl who has these walls that block off so many people from seeing her broken like that, was crying because of this strong amount of discouragement she felt. Aren’t your parents supposed to build you up? Like when we’re four and you painted the ugliest thing yet your mother or father had put it up on the fridge and praised you for how beautiful it was.
Then there are some of you that come from broken families, abusive families,families who do not have the same beliefs as you, or maybe you even come from a great, happy, united family yet you just feel you do not fit.
The bible says obey your parents and I am in no way telling you otherwise. But I am telling you that they…do not control who you will be. Or at least, you do not have to let them.
Growing up Ruth was my favourite book in the bible. It’s a story about a woman(Ruth) who marries into a family yet when her husband dies and her mother-in-law plans on going back to her homeland Ruth begs and pleads to go with her. She leaves her own family, her own land, perhaps even the beliefs she was raised to believe. All to follow a woman she had become so close with. Yes, they were not related by blood yet Naomi(the mother in law) loved Ruth.
“…and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and you have come to a people whom you did not know before. The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” Ruth 2:11,12
Ruth was blessed. And blessed. And blessed. She married a man named Boaz and bore a son named Obed who happened to be the grand father of David.

What I’m getting at here is when you watch your family and you are hurt by them you need to understand that yes, God tells us to love everyone and you should love and forgive them yet you do not have to force yourself to be like them. To believe the same things as they do. You do not have to feel discouraged like my own friend had. Because, like God did with Ruth, he can bring people into your life that will affect you and encourage you and love you. Whether they’re your relatives or not.
You are your own person and God find that so beautiful. He died so you could be free from your sins so why are you letting yourself be captive to these huge shadows your family or friends cast on you? You are not them.
So do not let them tear you down or destroy your faith or hope. Because there will always be someone else out there meant for you who believes the same and who wants to see you grow not to bottle that light.

(I'm tagging charlotte because she is wonderful and so encouraging even if she doesn't have the same beliefs. And she inspired this more than i can even explain)

an ode to bachelorhood