Imagine that you’ve just pulled an all-nighter studying for exams. Your brain is tired. Your eyes are tired, You can barely function. You stumble to class and feign alertness until they end at 3:00pm. But wait! Your day still isn’t over.

You can’t sleep yet; you still need to do homework and get groceries. Your stomach rumbles, so you drive to the grocery store in your exhausted, dizzy, inattentive state. You walk into the store and can’t remember why you came in the first place. You decide to buy a couple frozen meals and drive back to your apartment.

By now you’re so exhausted that you’re hallucinating, seeing strange lights and shapes out of the corner of your eye. You pop a frozen meal into the microwave and finally recline on your roommate’s tiny, uncomfortable couch and close your eyes for a blissful second. You close your eyes at 6:00pm on Wednesday. You wake up, groggy and un-refreshed, at 4:00pm on Thursday.

You’ve just slept for 22 hours.

Now imagine that instead of having pulled off that all-nighter, you instead got 14 hours of sleep the night before but feel as exhausted as if you hadn’t slept at all.

This is my daily life living with idiopathic hypersomnia.

Like many college students, I’ve experienced my fair share of sleepless all-nighters, choosing afternoon naps over doing homework, and sleeping until noon on weekends. I’ve fallen asleep in class, canceled plans with friends at the last minute so I could sleep, and expressed friendly envy towards a classmate who got 10 hours of sleep the previous night.

Unlike most college students, my afternoon naps ranged from 6 to 18 hours. Pulling the rare all-nighter resulted in me falling asleep the following afternoon and sleeping until the following day. Sleeping in on weekends meant that you didn’t wake up sometime after 12:00 pm; I usually woke up sometime after 8:00 pm.

I thought all of these behaviors were normal for a college student, especially one who stays up a little later than she should and struggles to manage her time effectively. Little did I know that all of these were red flags for a sleep disorder.

I had always struggled to do well in college. I procrastinated a little too often on homework assignments and didn’t study quite enough for tests. I routinely slept through my alarms and sometimes slept through my classes altogether.

My grades ranged from just ok to pretty good and my class attendance was always fairly poor. I just assumed that I wasn’t managing my time well and that I was at fault for choosing sleep over my other responsibilities.

Even after failing a class and losing my job from poor attendance, I still thought that there was nothing “technically” wrong with me. I thought that everyone I talked to about my sleep was right: “you just need to push through it,” “go to bed earlier,” and most of all “stop being so lazy.”

It wasn’t until January 2015 that I realized something was wrong with me and had been wrong with me for a long time. After sorority chapter, I stumbled back to my apartment ready to go straight to bed at only 8:00pm.

I remember pushing my clean laundry off my bed onto the floor and deciding that it took too much effort to change out of my formal sorority dress into pajamas. I laid out horizontally across my bed, with no pillows and no blankets, and…that’s all I can remember. Until I woke up at 10:00pm the following day.

I remember waking up, still dressed from the night before, with no recollection of what had happened or what time it was. I grabbed my phone and gasped when I saw that it was 10:00pm on Tuesday. That couldn’t be right. Our chapter was on Monday nights at 7:00 pm and I was home by 8:00 pm. That would mean that I slept for over 24 hours. How could that be right?

Normal people don’t sleep that long.

I was absolutely terrified. I couldn’t begin guessing what was wrong with me; what would make me sleep for that long? I wasn’t ill. I hadn’t had a recent allergic reaction. I wasn’t on any medication. What was it? And most of all I feared: what if I fell asleep somewhere that wasn’t safe?

I called my doctor and scheduled an appointment for the next day. I was immediately referred to a sleep study to see why I was sleeping for so long and why I struggled to wake up in the mornings. Leading up to the sleep study, I feared going to sleep every single night. I feared that I wouldn’t be able to wake up the next morning, or even wake up at all the next day.

I immediately started a healthy sleep regime: I was in bed with the lights out by 10:00 pm and my first alarm was set to go off at 7:30 am. I honestly believed that adopting this strategy would be the key to managing my sleep effectively and that there was nothing medically wrong with me.

However, after a month of living on this sleep schedule, I only felt worse and continued to sleep longer and longer every night.

I completed my sleep study and two weeks later, I was diagnosed with idiopathic hypersomnia. Unlike insomnia, hypersomnia means sleeping too much, especially when the person struggles to wake up after sleeping. Idiopathic means “unknown cause.”

I was disheartened and felt more alone than ever to learn that I had a sleep disorder that prevented me from waking up naturally, and that even the name itself stated that no one knew how it was caused.

I was given a prescription for a stimulant medication used to treat narcolepsy but was denied insurance coverage for it because I didn’t have narcolepsy. And at $200 a bottle, it was impossible to pay for it out of pocket.

I felt hopeless. My performance in class worsened until I was finally forced to withdraw from my last semester of senior year.

I signed up for summer classes to complete my degree, but even then I continued to struggle to wake up and go to class everyday. Homework was nearly impossible; I fell asleep during all my assigned readings and even during assigned video viewings.

There was nothing that kept me awake. I felt that I was condemned to a life of unconsciousness, and it was a life that I struggled with alone.

My mom started searching to learn more about idiopathic hypersomnia. She managed to get me an appointment with the world’s leading neurologist on the disorder in only a month instead of the typical 12 month waiting period, which was a feat we agreed was a miracle from God.

I saw him and learned more about the causes of idiopathic hypersomnia, and I learned that I was one of hundreds of patients he was treating for this disorder. He said that hypersomnia was caused by the brain producing a chemical that acts like a sleeping pill, and that no matter how long I slept, this would only make me crave more sleep.

He recommended that I also attend the annual Hypersomnia Foundation conference during the summer. I was relieved that not only I was seeing a doctor who understood why I was so sleepy and understood my struggles but also that there was an entire conference for other people who suffered from the same disorder.

For the first time since that night in January, I was finally relieved and happy. I was no longer alone.

I attended the conference and was surprised by how many people were there. There were over 300 people in attendance, and most of them suffered from hypersomnia. I listened to the world’s leading researchers talk about their newest discoveries and about new treatment methods they were developing for hypersomniacs.

I couldn’t believe it; I finally understood the disorder that had caused me so much suffering and that there were even treatment options available. I wasn’t condemned to a life of unconscious sleep; I would be able to live a normal life and stay awake every day.

I met several other young adults in a breakout session support group. Hearing their stories about their struggles and their diagnoses made me relieved that there were other people who understood everything I was going through. We bonded over our shared mental illness and created an amazing support group that we’ve continued ever since the conference.

We share advice on dealing with our disorder, console and help each other during challenging times in our lives, and find ways to laugh about our disorder on a daily basis (our favorite joke is “I’m great in bed. I can sleep for days”).

Living with idiopathic hypersomnia is a daily challenge. I’m challenged from the moment I wake up every morning until the moment I go to bed to stay awake and try to live a normal life. But now I know, even in the face of a rare illness like this, I’m not the only one going through it.

There are always other people who are there going through the exact situation I’m experiencing, and together we can help each other overcome the daily struggles we all face.

I’ve been told many times by other people that “I’m not the only one experiencing this,” but I’ve always brushed that off thinking that they didn’t understand my unique situation. But they were right: even with a disorder that’s only found in 1 out of every 2,000 people, I am still not alone.

I have my family and my friends supporting me. I have my doctors for continuing treatment. I have my fellow patients for advice. And I have God to lean on and guide me through this difficult time in my life.

If you only remember one thing from my story, I want it to be this: no matter how hard life gets, no matter how hopeless you feel or the failures you endure, you are never ever alone. You are not the only one experiencing this difficulty in your life, and you are not the only one who has ever suffered from this situation or felt alone like this. You are loved by your family, your friends, and your deity, and you WILL overcome this difficult time in your life.

Take it from Sleeping Beauty herself.

(If you’re interested in learning more about idiopathic hypersomnia, visit the Hypersomnia Foundation’s website at www.hypersomniafoundation.org).

Our University of Georgia community was struck with a horrible tragedy and immense heartache this past week. We lost the lives of four amazingly beautiful young women and our prayers are with the fifth whom is still laying in a coma, hoping that she is able to pull through.

I faced what I thought would be the worst of losses my senior year of high school when one of my class and teammates, Tracey Vander Kolk, succumbed to suicide. I went to a typical high school of around 2,500 students, where just about everyone knew of everyone. When we lost this beautiful soul, our Severna Park community came together in the most amazing of ways to support each other through this dark time.

We had every sort of stereotypical group you could imagine for a school of teenage kids, but when this happened, when we lost someone that we all knew and loved, everyone was just one.

For once there were no clicks dividing who could and would talk to who, we were just Severna Park, mourning the loss of one of our own. The amount of support that my lacrosse team received was immeasurable and I cannot even begin to express how thankful I was, how we all were. My team was my family, and for the first time in what I ever knew, all of Severna Park was too.

When we got the news of the crash last Wednesday night, everyone received texts and calls from loved ones, checking in to make sure that we were okay. A sigh of relief knowing that your best friend, sister, or child was safe, but an ache in your heart knowing that someone else’s wasn’t. Thursday morning, the news broke and names were out. Personally, I didn’t know any of these beautiful girls, but so many people that are so close to me, did. Hearing how highly everyone spoke of each of them, makes me wish I did even more.

Everyone finds their people in college, and being away from home, we all form our own new families.

Whether you go Greek, find your best friends through your major or a club, or in my case, sports, we all find our way into some of the strongest relationships we will ever make. My lacrosse team is my family and I can full-heartedly say that playing with them is the greatest decision I’ve made throughout my college career. By choice or by blood, family is family. They are the greatest support system and biggest influence that anyone will ever have on your life and I cherish mine more than I could ever put into words.

My heart aches for my teammates that lost a part of their family. For the siblings who lost a sister. For the parents who lost a daughter. For the sororities that lost a sister. For UGA students that lost a classmate. For anyone who lost someone who touched their life in some way. Loss is a terrible thing. The worst thing about it, is that it most often takes from us what we have taken for granted.

It is the saddest reality that it seems to take a devastating event in order to bring everyone together.

So many peoples worlds were rocked and lives were left to feel like they were falling apart. But the thing about falling apart is it gives us the opportunity of coming together. Thursday, while a heartbreaking day, was a beautiful day in terms of our UGA community. Everyone came together to pay their respects and celebrate the lives that were lived, and are still fighting to live.

On Thursday our UGA community transformed into one family.

I am without a doubt sure that so many of you have classes with people you have never talked to. Speed walk through Tate to get away from anyone that tries to talk to you into joining their organization. Sit down on a bus and scroll through social media to avoid the awkward encounter of engaging in a conversation with someone whom is a complete stranger and seems totally irrelevant to your life. Won’t go somewhere or do something different without dragging a friend along so 1. you don’t look like a loser and 2. so that you don’t have to meet or talk to anyone new that has the potential of being weird or creepy or some other random undesirable trait.

Trust me, I know, because I do it all.

This crash hit us all just as any crash does, hard. But in light of this tragic loss, I figure that we all have the opportunity to learn to do one simple thing. Love a little more. Love all you can, while you can. Meet new people. Tell the ones that are already in your life how much they mean to you. Appreciate what you have, while you have it! Such a crazy, cliche concept considering your parents shoved this down your throat as a child and somehow not enough of us have actually grasped it yet. We are all so blessed with such wonderful lives, but it is so easy to take that for granted while we are so consumed with our hectic schedules and distracted by what we consider to be “significant” issues.

I cannot even count the number of times I have complained about my life falling apart this semester just because of a little school stress and being unsure about my future, when in reality, some peoples lives really are falling apart.

I am healthy, am going to one of the greatest schools and living in the best town, have the most ridiculously amazing family and friends (and dog) and overall just have a pretty awesome life.

The number of times I’ve actually taken the time to recognize and be truly appreciative of that this week? Not nearly enough. And on top of all that, we’ve all developed this tunnel vision where if something or someone doesn’t directly affect our lives, they aren’t even a part of our reality.

Each person that you meet has the potential to impact your life in an amazing way, but you actually have to meet them! Everyone who knew Christina, Brittany, Halle or Kayla, you are blessed. Blessed because you had the amazing opportunity of knowing a wonderful soul that we all weren’t as lucky to have known. With this in mind, we all need to take advantage of this amazing group of people we are surrounded by at Georgia. Dawg Nation is stronger than ever with the immense love we have shared with each other and the prayers lifted up for each and every single person that has been impacted by this tragic event. As we move forward, we will hold those lost close to our hearts, but carry on knowing that the love they shared is still with us, patiently waiting to be shared with each other.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13

In loving memory of Brittany Feldman, Christina Semeria, Halle Scott, Kayla Canedo and Tracy Vander Kolk.

With thoughts, love and prayers for Agnes Kim.

My twin sister and I were born in 1994 in Mobile, Alabama. Excluding many details, less than 11 months after my birth, I had a heart transplant in Atlanta, Georgia at Egleston Children’s Hospital, today known as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Those who know me know the lengths I go to to appear as an average 21-year old. However, my story is more complicated. I firmly trust in the Lord that only those who need to read my story are reading it right now. Something I wish the seventeen-year-old me could read the twenty-one-year-old me write.

When I was seventeen, after Googling too much (everyone should avoid this) I came to the conclusion that my life would end far sooner than I expected. What I expected to be a full life of 70 years, at the end of a few weeks, changed to a hopeful 25 years.

If I lived to 32 I would break the Guinness World Record.

It was a heavy burden then but weighs less now. However, to this day, I still have to stop, take a deep breath, and refocus.

Those first three months were like being lost in a black abyss where the sea is so shockingly cold, it’s numbing. I was mentally and emotionally unconnected to everything in my life. There were two very special people in my life who somehow found a way to help me open up about my old world that was spinning and falling apart and the new world that was unknown and painful.

God was also there, but at the time I felt He abandoned me. I had always been willing to do as He wished, but I felt He didn’t adequately prepare me for this kind of life.

Before I concluded I only had 8-10 more years, my life plan was nothing special, a balanced life centered around my family. I planned a life that included a husband and children. I imagined what they might go through if I left them. Thus, I would not let them exist at all.

If I couldn’t have a family, maybe I could have an impressive professional life, but what could I possibly achieve professionally before 30? So as time went on, it became easier to think only 7 or 8 years into the future with everything I had wanted being unattainable.

I wish I could tell you what’s it’s like to have nothing in this world you want.

The things I want I can’t secure for myself. I can’t be the mother or wife I wanted to be, or the daughter or sister for that matter.

There is freedom that comes with this. Anyone could take anything away from me, do anything to me, and it can’t compare to the pain I feel knowing I will be the one that causes my parents to bury a child and the one who can’t be with my sister for the rest of her life.

If it’s God’s plan, I’m the one who might even abandon her husband and maybe her young children as well. Parents say that there’s nothing that compares to the pain of losing a child, so imagine you’re the child they lose but you know several years in advance and can’t stop it.

4 years later….

What was numb has come back to life. What was pain and shock has become unfailing trust. What were secrets has become faith in His plan for my life.

I am still reminded that my future is not as secure as it once appeared, but when fear starts to turn to anger and sadness I make a deliberate effort to focus on God’s presence around me. It’s hard to describe how it feels when I purposefully remind myself He is with me, and it is far greater to feel it than to read about it.

It feels like a friend is smiling down at me from higher up on an unknown mountain trail. When I’m sad or tired, it feels like my cheek falling on a trusted shoulder. When I’m angry, it’s hearing a soft plea, talk to Me. When I’m scared it’s a patient and resounding do not be afraid.

 Everyone has a story.

This story is a journey of one’s life. It is this journey and our experiences which define who we are today and who we will become in the future. Like everyone else, I have a story. I went into my senior year of high school with the goal of being accepted into my dream school: the University of Georgia.

I figured this goal would allow me to focus on myself and allow me to find a sense of peace in the midst of all the unhappiness I was feeling at the time.

Toward the end of my senior year, I was accepted into UGA and, in May 2011, I graduated from Brookwood High School. These were some of my fondest moments. I grew up in a very sheltered home, where I did not have as much freedom as other teenagers my age. It made growing up difficult and made me “hate” my parents. It is safe to say I did not have a good relationship with my parents when I was a teenager because they were so controlling and overprotective, which is why being accepted into college, away from home, was something to look forward to.

As move-in day approached in August 2011, I was not excited about moving into a dorm and transitioning into the college world. I knew it was not because I didn’t want to leave home and my parents, but because I did not want to pack. I did not feel ready to embark on a journey I had been waiting for my entire life. Move in day came and my parents and my brothers helped me move into my dorm. While I unpacked a few things on my own, they went out and bought me a futon for my dorm room. After they came back, my brothers and my dad assembled my futon.

I remember thinking, at that moment, that I could not imagine life without them.

After they finished assembling the futon, they were ready to leave. As I said goodbye to them I got teary-eyed. However, I quickly tried to get over it so that it did not seem like I was going to miss my parents. From that evening on, I quickly adjusted to the college life and did not want to turn back. I enjoyed spending time with my roommate, my first friend in college. We wanted to try everything together.

The very first night I moved in, we heard there was a house party and we both wanted to go, mostly because we never went to “parties” while growing up, and we wanted to go for the experience. Although it turned out to be lame, we agreed the next time there was a legitimate party at a bar or club in Athens, we would go. Then, the Thursday of the first week of school we heard about a party hosted by a sorority at a club called Sideways, and it was the best “real college party” my roommate and I went to. My roommate and I did not drink that night, but we had so much fun dancing to good music, going to Waffle House afterwards, and hanging out with friends in our dorm room until 7:00 am the next morning.

That night marked the beginning of many great experiences, crazy adventures, and late nights.

Aside from the fun aspect of college, I came into college undecided on my major. It was a scary place to be. While I was growing up, I never knew what I wanted to become in life. My brothers knew what they had interests in since they were five years old. I used to wonder what was wrong with me. Why did I not have the passion for something that others had? I spent the first semester of college taking the core classes everyone needed to take and spent the mean time figuring out what I wanted to major in.

Eventually, my dad influenced my choice in a major. He suggested I study business, but particularly finance. He told me there are so many opportunities in finance. I remembered thinking, “what is business?” I literally had no concept or understanding of what business was, yet alone finance. Then, the second semester of freshman year came along, and I officially declared finance as my major. I did this mostly because I was tired of telling others I did not know what I wanted to do with my life.

At that point, I thought my worries were gone and all I would need to do is take classes for my major and just graduate.

Boy was I wrong! Before I could officially claim finance to be my major, Terry College of Business needed to accept me into the finance major program. I thought this was odd because most people just begin their major when they get into college. I soon learned the Terry College of Business is one of the top ranked business schools in the U.S. and students had to apply to get in because it was so competitive. I spent my entire sophomore year taking all the Terry entrance classes.

During my first semester of sophomore year, I took Accounting I with the infamous Swati. Everyone told me to take Accounting I at another school where it would be easier to make a good grade because Swati’s class was “terrible”. However, I figured it could not be as bad as people say and as long as I worked hard and studied a harder, I would be fine. I figured I would challenge myself to take Swati’s class. I bombed my first Accounting I exam. I had never done so badly on a test in my entire life. I figured now that I know what to expect I can prepare myself for the second exam. The second exam came around and I remembered leaving from the test around 9:00pm and crying all the way back to my dorm.

I dreaded checking the grade after it was posted a few days later. The moment I checked my grade I cried my eyes out and immediately called my dad to tell him I was going to fail at life and I wanted to change my major because I could not handle my accounting class. However, he was not letting me give up like that. I ended up dropping the class and retaking Accounting I at Georgia Perimeter College.

The experience taught me that no matter how much I work hard in life there will be times when things do not go my way.

However, those pitfalls are not a reason to give up and run away from the problem but tackle the issue head on. At the end of the day, everything will be fine. I was getting through my last set of Terry entrance classes and was beginning to apply to the business school. I was not as worried about getting into the business school because I had made A’s and B’s in the entrance courses. However, applicants were required to take a standardized test, called the ETS exam, to qualify as an applicant for the business college. I knew I was terrible at taking standardized tests. Students are only allowed to take the ETS exam a maximum of two times.

The first time I took the exam, I bombed it. I was nowhere near the acceptable score range for a finance major. I remembered calling home and crying about what happened to my parents. They told me to find a way to prepare for the ETS exam and to pray about it. I come from a family where my parents were devout Christians and I was raised to go to church every Sunday and praying in the evening together as a family. However, I just did all these things for the sake of my parents, not because I felt like I needed God in my life. I remember when my mom encouraged me to pray about the ETS exam, I actually pulled my Bible out, read from it, and prayed about the exam. I took the ETS exam and scored exactly the score I needed in order to qualify as a student who wanted to major in finance.

At that moment, I praised God and realized there is so much power in prayer.

I sent in my application for the Terry College of Business in September 2013 and got accepted into the Terry College of Business with a major in Finance and a Co-Major in International Business in October 2013. This was my next greatest achievement. I was so excited to share the wonderful news with my family and friends. That night I celebrated by going to bars in downtown Athens and had an enjoyable night with my friends who supported me along the way.

December 2013 I secured an internship at the Gwinnett Tax Commissioner’s Office for summer 2014. This internship opportunity was provided for me through an old friend. Considering that we live in in such a competitive world, I realized there is so much power in building a network, especially in the world of business. January 2014 I knew I needed to grow personally and professionally. Now that I was accepted into the finance major program, I knew my classes would be tough and it would have been nice to have help along the way. My close friends were not business majors so I knew they would not be able to help me in my classes.

I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and try something new.

I decided to join the professional business fraternity on campus, Delta Sigma Pi. Joining DSP was one of the best decisions I made in college. More than having friends in my finance classes or a network, I had the opportunity to meet diverse individuals of different backgrounds and experiences. DSP also allowed me to build friendships with some amazing people. Spring 2014, I was pledging for DSP and taking the Terry cohort classes (a set of classes all Terry students take upon entry into the business school regardless of major).

One of the best classes I took that semester was MGMT 3000 with Christopher Hanks. Christopher Hanks began the entrepreneurship program at UGA. Although his class was unorganized, I enjoyed his class because he was a wonderful speaker. He preached entrepreneurship and always had great insight to offer.

Professor Hanks began every class with a quote: “Life begins where your comfort zone ends.”

I find this quote, although short, to carry so much meaning. Hanks was right, life really does begin where our comfort zone ends. Life is about stepping out of our comfortable bubble and taking risks. We cannot achieve what we truly desire in life without doing so. It is okay if we fall, fail, or look stupid. We just have to pick ourselves back up and keep fighting for our desires. Life is about making mistakes and learning from them. “Life begins where your comfort zone ends.”

I literally live by this quote every day and encourage those around me to do the same. May of 2014 I went to India to visit my grandparents. I usually went to India every 2 to 3 years ever since I was born just to visit my grandparents. Ever since I started college, I never thought I would never have the opportunity to visit my grandparents between summer classes and internships. By the grace of God, I was able to go to India three weeks after school ended that year. Immediately after I got back from India I interned at the Gwinnett County Office of the Tax Commissioner.

August 2014 kicked off my senior year. Over the summer prior to beginning classes, I was very nervous about senior year because I knew it was going to be the hardest and busiest year in my college career because I would be taking all of my upper level courses for finance and international business. My Corporate Finance class defined the fall semester of 2014 with Professor Lu. Professor Lu was a very brilliant man. He graduated from China with a degree in engineering, received his Master’s degree in economics from Duke, and his PhD in finance from Columbia. Shortly after receiving his PhD, he started his teaching career at UGA.

Professor Lu taught our finance class as it were a master’s program course. I walked out of every single test in his class not feeling good about them. I wanted to drop his class at midpoint but my goal was to graduate the following spring, so dropping his class was not an option for me. My friends and I struggled through his class together and survived. After I took my finals in December 2014, I went on an alternative winter break trip with about 20 other UGA students.

The trip was called IMPACT.

Going on this trip was a way of stepping out of my comfort zone and going on a week-long service trip to Savannah, Georgia with 20 random UGA students right before the holidays. The trip was a great experience and I had the opportunity to meet some amazing individuals while serving the rural and homeless community of Savannah. I reached home in time for the holidays and it was a chance for me to really reflect on where I was in life.

Fall semester of senior year I only focused on making good grades in my classes and barely made the effort to look for a full time job upon graduation. I was disappointed in myself after knowing someone who had five job offers, many of those who accepted their offers, and there I was with no offers. The pressure to obtain a full time job in time for graduation was on. January 2015 approached and I told myself I am going to get a job offer from a company no matter how many sacrifices I would have to make.

I struggled in my finance classes once again, but I made sure to find the balance between classes and finding a job.

In January, an acquaintance of mine came with the Global IT Services team from Ernst & Young for campus recruiting. I talked to her before attending the meeting and she encouraged me to attend the meeting even though the meeting was catered to Management Information Systems & Technology and Computer Science majors. I attended this meeting and realized I was eligible to apply for one of the positions. At the end of the meeting, I spoke with the experienced recruiters at Ernst & Young and they quickly grew very fond of me because of my acquaintance.

February 2015, I interviewed every week with 1 to 2 companies per week for a full time position. I never prayed so much in my life until February 2015. I even asked my parents to pray for me whenever I had an interview. I made it to Round 2 interviews with Ernst & Young. By that point, I knew this was the best company I had ever interviewed with and I needed to successfully get through Round 2, because I had not made it to Round 2 or gotten offers from any other company.

I put school and life on hold and asked a handful of my friends inside and outside of DSP to help me prepare for all aspects of my interviews. March 4, I had my Round 2 interviews at the EY office in Alpharetta. March 5, the campus recruiter called me and told me I had gotten an offer from EY. March 7, I accepted my offer from EY. Praise God! Without the never-ending prayers and support from my family and friends, this would not have been possible.

At that moment, I felt as though a huge burden was lifted from my shoulders.

I went into spring break feeling so relieved and happy. It was the first time in the longest time I had genuinely felt so happy in life. All that was left to do now was to get back on track with my finance classes and graduate. After accepting a job offer and knowing graduation was so close, I was losing motivation to work hard in my classes. The only way I was able to get myself to concentrate was to “live” at the Miller Learning Center.

I remember being there on Friday nights studying when the building was practically deserted. But I did whatever I needed to do in order to finish strong. The most challenging class in the history of my undergraduate career at UGA was Applied Corporate Finance with Blasko. My graduation was contingent on me passing this class. The night before the final exam, a group of friends and I spent the night at the MLC studying for Blasko’s final and took his exam the following morning at 8:00am.

I ended up passing his class and graduated this past May 2015. I owe it all to my mom and dad. They gave me one of the greatest gifts of all, an education. Without their constant, never-ending love, prayers, and support I would not have made it. I moved back home shortly after graduation and I am glad I did. There really is no place like home. Going off to college made me learn to value and respect my parents. More than earning an education and accepting a job offer, I gained a stronger relationship with my mom, dad, and my brothers. I would not trade it for anything in the world. Post-graduation, I began my career at Ernst & Young on June 1, 2015.

I have completed two full weeks at the firm and have already met so many wonderful people. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me now. I have learned, experienced, and grown so much in the past four years and I hope and pray I will only continue to learn, experience, and grow for the better.

I was in Japan, walking toward the sunset above Lake Biwa, with a sticky rock in my hand. Senior year of high school I joined Teen Advisors, a Christian-based organization committed to helping freshmen handle stress, problems, and issues they might face in high school. 

Every fall, there’s a Teen Advisors retreat, and at that retreat, there were speakers who spoke about different issues. We were all instructed to carry around a tube sock that weekend, and if the issue the speaker talked about was something you struggled with, you could go up to the front and put rocks in your giant tube sock. One of the speakers talked about comparing yourself to others, which was the first time I realized I had been doing that for years up to that point. I went up to the front and put a bunch of rocks in my giant tube sock. The last night at the retreat, at Camp Lee in Alabama, we all met around a bonfire, spoke what was on our hearts and what we learned, and then all together, we threw our rocks into the lake.

It was symbolic, but it really felt like I had cast the weight away that had been holding me down.

That year, I ended up winning an essay contest that year that allowed me to attend a language school in Kyoto, Japan, for one month the summer before college.  That in itself is another story, a huge blessing, and a dream come true. So here I was, in the summer after my senior year, exploring Kyoto and the surrounding area by myself every day after class, before returning to my host family for dinner.

In my last week there, I traveled an hour and half by train away to Hikone, a town with a famous castle located next to Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake.  I never felt more disconnected from “home” – no one in the world knew where I was at this point in time. It was a thrilling adventure, but I felt isolated and exposed at the same time. Perhaps it was that fear that put me in a weakened state, but for some reason, something really got to me. A gang of elementary school-aged boys didn’t attack me, they were just goofing off across from me on the train.  They didn’t interact with me, but watching them made me self-conscious and think, “Why have I never been that way?”

I felt girly, and not boyish like them. I was home-schooled in elementary school because my dad was in the Army and we moved often. I had friends growing up, but in that moment, I felt like I never did.

I didn’t have that many friends because I didn’t go to school with classrooms of kids my age. And instead of a competitive, rowdy trouble-maker, I was more of a creative, imaginative, polite kid. I didn’t like soccer because you had to “steal” the ball. I liked baseball alright because I liked pretending to throw imaginary Pokéballs while mindlessly standing in the outfield.

There are different kinds of people, which is totally fine and good, but because I wasn’t like those Japanese boys on the train when I was their age, I felt less-than, lonely, and sad about my personality, questioning my own masculinity and identity as a man.

In Hikone, I walked around, saw the castle, ate a small orange wrapped in mochi, and walked through a zen garden, but I wasn’t at peace.

I started comparing myself to other guys my age back at home, about how I wasn’t as athletic as they were, or as manly as they were. The last point on my to-see list was Lake Biwa – straight ahead according to the map I had – straight ahead on a long sidewalk pointing right toward the setting, summer sun. Because of the sun’s brightness and my discouragement, I looked down as I walked.

There were no pieces of trash, no cracks in the sidewalk, nothing but pristine walkway– until I saw a single rock. I picked it up, and it was sticky. I thought about how ugly it was, and how it shouldn’t feel sticky. It grossed me out, and I thought to myself that I hated that rock. Then, I remembered the rocks I threw into the lake at Camp Lee. I kept it in my fist and kept walking, ready to throw the ugly thing into Lake Biwa with all my strength as if it were an imaginary Pokéball, and most importantly to renew my vow to not compare myself to others.

The edge of the lake was more like the edge of the ocean.  High winds and waves hit the concrete barrier between land and lake. A highlighted haze was a screen on the horizon, and I wondered if I could see the other side on a clear sunset.

I looked behind me at purple clouds in the sky. I took a lot of photos. And then I threw the rock into Lake Biwa.

It felt great to renew my resolution, and I started to feel better.  I was back home in about two hours, had dinner with my host family, and went to the bathroom afterwards.  In the bathroom, there was a daily calendar, with little drawings of manga-style monks and handwritten Japanese sayings. Out of the 28 days I was there, I could only read two or three of the messages.  But when I looked up at this message, I almost couldn’t believe it. After double-checking the verb on my phone’s dictionary, I translated its message: “Do not compare yourself to others.” The Bible says, “Don’t let your heart be troubled,” and for me, a big way to do that is to not compare myself to others.

I am a child of God, and He loves me just the way He made me – my asymmetrical eyelids, my dry chicken skin, my unique interests and talents, and my kind and gentle heart. God spoke that message to me at Lake Biwa, and three years later, whenever I go to a lake, I throw an ugly rock in it and renew my promise to not compare myself to others. I haven’t come across many other sticky rocks, but if I do, I throw it extra hard and wash my hand clean afterwards.

The very idea may seem ridiculous, even offensive to some people. However, prophets can be cited as examples of powerful spiritual personalities who have held a temporary resentment toward GOD for the judgments HE brought down because of the sins and evils committed by HIS chosen people. The punishments often seemed worse than the crime, in their eyes. Truly, forgiving GOD is never necessary, and yet…I have occasionally held some residue, deep inside, a secret resentment, even disappointment toward GOD for the situations I found myself in throughout my life.

The suffering of the innocent would grind my gears.

For example, I was so angry when I lost my Soror, lawyer to be, sister friend to AIDS. How could GOD not rescue her or prevent evil from happening to her? I was angry with GOD because in 1989 he allowed me to bare witness to a stranger’s suicide. I stood as he jumped from the bridge to his death because brain cancer destroyed his beautiful forensic mind.

I tried to stop him but couldn’t and held myself personally responsible for my inability to physically stop the jumper. I was angry with GOD for years because I thought I’ve been dealt a bad hand. I thought it unfair that I was childless and unmarried. I am after all a good daughter, sister, cousin, niece, friend, neighbor, and Godmother. I have no vices to speak of. I am not unlike those who live the fairytale and find happily ever after. I am no menace to society. I have played by the rules of a civilized society. I am educated because the principle goal of education is to create individuals who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done, people who are creative, inventive discoverers.

So why has GOD denied me? I was angry with GOD because why would HE allow me to meet and grow to love the wrong person for all the right reasons yet again. How could HE allow me to unwittingly discover the man who is undoubtedly my music from another room and not allow me to dance with him forever?

I resented GOD because HE not only took my Mother too soon but HE took her before I could apologize to her. Four years ago when I lost my Mother to lupus we were distant. Let me quantify that, being distant for us meant we spoke once a day instead of three to four times a day. My Mother & I were very close my entire life but there was distance at her time of death because the four months leading up to her death I got engaged to someone that she thought was no good for me.

I didn’t see it but as always she was right. Before she died I knew she was right but I was too proud to say I was wrong.

We argued that October 2011 and never spoke of it. Like it never happened. I still called. We talked for three hours the night before she died but I didn’t go home as often because I was mad. Not apologizing or making amends left me with tremendous guilt when she died, it’s my worst regret, my greatest shame. I blamed myself and I was angry with GOD for robbing me of the chance to fix it.

I bet we are absolutely pissed off with God far more than we would like to admit.

While it may seem irrational and illogical to blame GOD for choosing the wrong partner, accepting an unfulfilling career, or living financially beyond your means, many of us do just that. We blame GOD. I held GOD responsible for my Mother’s death, my Soror’s suffering, my poor choices, my stubbornness, my hardspots, and my singleness. Who am I to forgive GOD for not preventing all the horrible things that have happened to me and to the world?

I’m human. But in my humanness I’ve discovered that my deeper healing will only come when I admit to myself that I am angry and accept that it’s okay to be the same. Only then can I truly appreciate that GOD allowed me to witness the stranger’s suicide so I could appreciate life and know permanent solutions are not the answer to temporary problems. HE took my Soror and Mother because he needed them more and recognized the lessons I learned in the wake of their deaths were necessary for my continued growth.

I discovered that nothing is promised so you’ve got to fix things, tell people how you feel, let them know that they matter.

Everything I held a grudge against GOD for was just not and is not in HIS plan for me. I suspect GOD brings people to my life so that I can stand in the gap for them. When GOD has us unwittingly intercede for one another, our chief purpose is to fill in those gaps in one another’s spiritual armor and hold up that person so the enemy can’t gain an advantage over them.

Likewise, when we fail to intercede for one another, we’re virtually giving the key to that person’s spiritual house to his/her enemies for them to wreak havoc, to steal that person’s peace or joy. Just as we wouldn’t build a brick wall and intentionally leave gaping holes in the cement joints, I would go so far as to say it is malicious for me to not “go between”/ “stand in the gap” for my brother, my sister.

Jesus said, “By this all shall know that you are my disciples, if you have love toward one another.” [John 13:35] How can I say I love anyone and not pray for them? It’s impossible! It’s a contradiction and a lie! “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” [James 5:16]

Perhaps GOD disappoints me to incite empathy, it pushes me to feel the pain of others in my heart. HE makes me angry, calling me to stand. So I’m standing in the gap. It’s not easy, it’s frustrating, it’s even painful but I’m standing in the gap for others because it is on the side of righteousness and it is how I forgive myself and atone for questioning GOD.

Many will find my willingness to acknowledge my anger and disappointment with GOD blasphemous. Holding something against GOD, Kimberly? Really? I say to you GOD already knows my heart. What is it exactly that you think GOD doesn’t already know about you?

If I ever doubted articulating what I was angry with GOD about or that I forgive GOD, it was confirmed this morning as I took pen to paper.

Since my Mother’s death there have been days where I literally questioned my ability to go on, i.e. get dressed, face the world, and even interact with people. Then I am reminded of her humor, her spirit and the presence of GOD. What occurs most often is that I go downstairs to find the light or ceiling fan on in my den.

Surely any electrician will say there’s a wiring issue or the remote control for the ceiling fan needs tweaking but I believe it is the presence of my Mother and therefore GOD.  This morning at four o’clock GOD and my Mommy showed up again, offering their blessing for my desire to tell this tale. So with that confirmation I am reminded that what matters supremely is not the fact that I know GOD, but the larger fact which underlies it, is that HE knows me and is present.

I am graven on the palms of HIS hands. I am never out of HIS mind.

All my knowledge of HIM depends on HIM  and his never yielding interest in knowing me. I know HIM because HE first knew me, and continues to know me. HE knows me as HIS inquisitive child who constantly asks why and why not, who is stubborn, loving, kind, generous, proud, and who is also angered by what allows her to stumble and what manifests as suffering to others in the world. HE knows me as HIS and HE knows I forgive HIM  and trust Him without hesitation, or reservation; because I choose to die empty for HIM, again and again.

(Written by Darby Miller)

If you REALLY know me and my views on life, then you know my low-key obsession with cups.

I mean yes, I love those coffee cups with their ~inspirational~ quotes and I love my $1 cherry blossom cups I recently bought from Dollar Tree…BUT my obsession doesn’t come from a tangible sense, it comes from a metaphorical sense. I believe that “cups” can be used on a daily basis to describe life and how we should live it.

We’ve all heard the classic saying “glass half-full vs. glass half-empty” when describing an optimist vs. pessimist view towards certain situations. Personal opinion here, but I truly believe if you choose to see each moment given to you with a CUP half-full mentality…each and every day is going to reveal all sorts of joys/wonders (I am a self-proclaimed optimist, can you tell?).

Ask yourself, what would your life look like if you decided to see the sweet moments in everyday life?

Are you overshadowing someone’s bliss by your negative attitude? Would your days be different if you highlighted the good and left the bad in the past? Not only is it important for you to create and maintain this positive outlook, but attitudes are contagious. You never know whose day you’re impacting by your words and actions.

“Every day might not be a good day, but there is good in every day.” I was challenged this past year to write down one positive thing I took away from each day. They varied from “wow today the weather was so AWESOME” to “I ate Taco Bell today…heck yes” to “today I had a really intentional conversation with a friend.”

This daily ritual began to alter how I viewed the entirety of the day. I started noticing all the immense gifts in each day, small or large, that made me smile. Happiness is this really cool thing where everyone has their own take on the question “what fills up your cup?” I challenge you to answer that question and start implementing those things in your daily routine.

Is it going for a long run? Catching up with a friend? Listening to a jammin’ song with the windows rolled down? (If so, let me come with). But it doesn’t matter what floats your boat, as long as you start doing these things in your daily life routine.

Obviously some days feel like they can drag on forever, but I challenge you to find the joy and soak up the days. And if you’re having a bad day, remember my favorite quote, “the days are long, but the years are short.”

One of the best things that life brings us is the opportunity to create relationships with others. In my opinion, interactions with others will FILL up your hypothetical cup the most.

Relationships create a whole new mindset behind the idea of cups. Essentially I’ve learned that everyone has their own unique, individual and beautiful type of cup. Cups differ in many ways; color, shape, size, purpose, etc.

For example, you probably aren’t going to use a wine glass for your morning coffee (but if you do, I respect you big time because you do you, homie.) Taking that in a literal sense, just like cups have purposes, you as an individual too have been placed on this earth with a purpose. And see, no two cups are alike so no two people are meant for the same purpose!

But let’s be honest, sometimes it is really hard knowing truly what our purpose is when we are one of 7.2 billion.

If you’ve found yourself barely staying afloat in the never ending questioning of purpose, you’re not alone. All throughout my life, especially my first two years of college, I struggled with this concept to the extreme. One night in particular I was feeling extra drained and just really down on myself. I wasn’t happy with who I was becoming or the decisions I was making. In my terminology, my personal “cup” was as empty as it could be.

I was walking back to my apartment when I was handed a water bottle from a stranger. Attached to the bottle was a note that said, “Your Life Has Purpose.”

A million thoughts raced through my mind like, “Why does this random person think that I, Darby Miller, have purpose?” or “they don’t even know me or all the mistakes I’ve made…how could they think I have a purpose?” I doubted myself completely. I doubted my worth.

Too much in society, we forget our worth, our value, our purpose to this world. We let insecurities and others tear us down from what we really are in His eyes…perfect. I know there are going to be moments in your life where life doesn’t seem to be going your way or you feel like you’re going down the wrong path BUT…I can promise you this…your life has a purpose…a MAJOR purpose!

Don’t let anyone or anything try to tell you differently because you are a special, unique, beautiful cup that has been created in His image and your capabilities are infinite.

It took a simple gesture of a water bottle to realize my worth. In DJ Khaled terms, the “key to success” isn’t always going to be right in front of you lit up in lights saying, “Hey you! This is how you’re going to do everything and then it’ll all be alright!”

Your purpose is a journey. Your purpose is constantly evolving. Your purpose will surprise you with new ideas and experiences.

Today is the day. Today I challenge you to see that each day and each person is a precious gift. I challenge you to embrace ALL the abilities you were given no matter the circumstances.

And above all else, I challenge you to remember that you have a really cool creator who loves you immensely. So may your cup be filled to the brim and may you have the ability to fill up others’ cups with His love.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be FILLED to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19

(Written by Kitan Ajanaku)

3 years ago, around this time, I made a decision that would completely change my life.

I was a redshirt freshman volleyball player at Long Beach State University and my dreams of making an impact on that program had been crushed. I was not tall enough for my position, my skills were subpar, I was too stiff, I couldn’t relax, my learning curve was too slow: these were all things that my head coach and my negative self talk had continuously repeated to myself.

Who was I kidding? I wasn’t good enough to compete in the West Coast. My mind had been shattered by anxiety and depression, and the confident, kick-ass athlete that I had always been disintegrated into someone I could not recognize. But my will and strength were not completely gone. I still had my Heavenly Father who had never left me alone.

I prayed for an answer.

I knew what I had to do to get control of my life and continue my dream of playing Division 1 College Volleyball. I decided to transfer. I knew I had to leave but I had a family in Long Beach. My teammates were my sisters and leaving them would be one of the hardest things I’d ever had to do.

I emailed about 20 mid major programs and went on 5 visits within a two-week span. This was hectic but I knew it would be worth it. When I visited Georgia State, the concrete city that is downtown Atlanta was not a selling point as I was used to Palm trees and sunshine in Southern California. It was an option, but definitely not at the top.

I visited schools in Florida and Northern California, and had plans to visit South Carolina. One night, I heard His voice. God told me that Georgia State was where I would find my home.

I was confused.

I had always wanted volleyball to be the number one reason why I would go to a school and GSU had the worst record out of all the schools I was considering, but He was persistent and for the first time in my life I knew it was Him and I listened.

I will forever remember the night that listening to God changed my life. I transferred to Georgia State and my life changed for the best. I returned to my true self and conquered my depression and anxiety.

Not everything was perfect when I moved to Atlanta, because many things were hard, but God provided me with so many blessings in my new home. I was blessed with a new volleyball family and sisters that I could not imagine my life without, I met the love of my life, and discovered my passion for law and child advocacy.

But the biggest blessing was finding my worth outside of being an athlete. I can almost 100% say that none of this would have happened had I not listened to God.

In His will, He holds all of our dreams and desires. His plan for our lives will always be the better plan.

(Written by Blaize Burley)

As a nineteen year old girl with my whole life ahead of me, I will admit that I frequently think about what the future looks like.

With that comes many questions of uncertainty: Will I venture off to a big city or stick with the comfort of a small town? Will I ever decide on what my major will be?! (Still undecided but that’s another story for another day) will I have the “American dream” house with the white picket fence or the Southern Antebellum home with a wrap-around porch I have always wanted?

Will I have 3 kids or 4? Maybe 5? and of course, the most anticipated question of them all…Who will I marry? Who will I grow old with and sit with in rocking chairs on our wrap-around porch?

These are all topics I pray about frequently, knowing that the Lord will reveal answers to me in His due time.

However, the more I pray about my future, the more I anticipate it and lean on God’s guidance in the uncertainty of life, the more I find rest in Him. “Love Me First“, he continues to say.

The Greatest Commandment Jesus tells us comes from Matthew 22:37-38. “And he said to them, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and FIRST commandment.’”

Notice Jesus doesn’t say we should love our reputation first. He doesn’t say we should love our possessions first. He doesn’t say we should love our significant other first. Nope. He says love the LORD YOUR GOD with everything that is within you first, and nothing in your life should come before Him who created you for His Glory.

Love God First…fall deeply in love with Him to where obeying him and pursuing a relationship with him is all that you think about. Love Him to where He is at the forefront of your every thought, to where you cannot go a day without spending time with Him in the word or in prayer. Love Him to where you begin to love what He loves and hate what He hates. Loving God First is the call we have on our lives.

Everything else you have is just a bonus including your job, your house, and even your spouse.

God. Is. Love, and this letter, which has encouraged me for years and comes straight from God’s word, is a demonstration of how much He loves us and desires us to fall in love with Him too:

“Dear child of mine,

I know everything about you. (Ps 139:1) I know when you sit down and when you rise up. (Ps. 139:2) Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. (Matt. 10:29-31) For you were made in my image. (Gen. 1:27) For you are my offspring. (Acts 17:28)

I knew you even before you were conceived. (Jer. 1:4-5)

I chose you when I planned creation. (Eph. 1:11-12) You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. (Ps 139:15-16) You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Ps 139:14) And it is my desire to lavish my love on you (John 3:1) simply because you are my child and I am your father. (1 John 3:1) I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. (Matt. 7:11) For I am the perfect father. (Matt. 5:48) Every good gift you receive comes from my hand. (James 1:17) For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.

4(Matt. 6:31-33) My plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jer. 29:11) because I love you with an everlasting love. (Jer. 31:3) My thoughts towards you are countless as the sand on the seashore. (Ps. 139: 17-18) I will never stop doing good for you. (Jer. 32:40)

You are my treasured possession. (Ex. 19:5)

I want to show you great and marvelous things. (Jer. 33:3) If you seek me with all of your heart, you will find me. (Deut. 4:29) Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. (Ps. 37:4) For I am able to do far more than you ask and think. (Eph. 3:20)

I am your greatest encourager (2 Thes. 2:16-17) and I will comfort you in all your troubles. (2 Cor. 1:3-4) When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. (Ps. 34: 18) One day I will wipe away each tear from your eyes. (Rev. 21:3-4) I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.

(Rev. 21:3-4) I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. (John 17:23) For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. (John 17:26) He is the exact representation of my being. (Heb. 1:3) Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. (2 Cor. 5:18-19) If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. (1 John 2:23)

Nothing will ever separate you from my love. (Romans 8:38-39)

Do not conform to the ways of this world, but instead be transformed by a new identity you have in me. (Romans 12:2) Do not live according to the flesh for you will die, but rather live according to the Spirit which gives you life in me. (Romans 8:13) Walk by faith in me, not by what you see in this world. (2 Cor. 5:7)

For there is freedom found in me (Gal. 5:1) I have always been Father, and I will always be Father. (Eph. 3:14-15) Love me with all your heart, soul, and mind. (Matt. 22:37) I have great plans to prosper you. (Jer. 29:11) Be still and know that I am God.(Ps. 46: 10).

Love,

Your Almighty Father.”

Whenever I get scared of what my future holds… whenever I start to lose sight of the path my Heavenly Father has set before me… I read this letter to remind me of how deeply He loves me. He has my whole life planned out. My prayer is every day that I seek first His Kingdom from when my feet hit the floor in the morning to when I lay my head down at night. I do not want to miss out on the amazing opportunities the Lord places in front of today because I am too anxious about tomorrow.

Fall in love with the Lord your God first and the rest will come.

(Written by Scott Porter)

Imagine a world where you personally know every single human being you encounter on a day-to-day basis. Every bystander you walk past, every driver you drive by. You know each and every person— their name, where they came from, what they struggle with, what they triumph with.

Growing up in a small town gives you a small taste of how a world like that would be.

Working at the hardware store in a town of 900 hundred people shows me the true character of people normally at their worst. Some may have a broken pipe that they just can’t seem to fix, others may have a large project or job to do but they just can’t seem to get everything together to start.

Often, those customers take their frustrations out on the first person they see, which is many times me. And that’s okay.

“Do yall have this black (old & outdated) pipe?”

“No ma’am, that pipe has been replaced with a newer kind that is much improved.”

“Well I need this kind and y’all should be ashamed to call yourselves a hardware store when y’all don’t have the pipe that I need.”

(I left out a few choice words the lady said but you get the jist.)

Everyone has bad days.

I often get extremely frustrated dealing with customers who take out all their anger on me. This post is not a rant, it’s a series of thoughts running through my head while I’m laying in bed and can’t seem to fall asleep for my life.

The thought is this—maybe if we knew, and I mean really knew, each person we encountered we would be a little more kind and a little more gracious to our brothers and sisters with whom we live side by side.

Jesus called us to love one another.

People always tell me (on my good days), “you’re too polite” or “you’re too kind.” And that’s an overwhelmingly sad comment. That statement implies that, one, because I held the door for you, you think I’m overly polite, and two, somewhere down the line you have become accustomed to people not being polite enough to hold the door for you.

That shouldn’t be the way of the world. DO NOT read this post and think “Geez, this kid is arrogant to talk about how polite he is.” I struggle with this everyday. I struggle with compassion.

It is hard for me to remain positive in such a negative world. It is hard for me to be polite all the time. But what if we were polite all the time? What if everyday we tried to be so nice to others as if we wanted to make their day? How much better of a place would the world be?

I believe our society wouldn’t have the race issues we have today if we all tried to be a little bit nicer or a little bit kinder to every stranger on the street.

When you know someone personally it’s “common courtesy” to be polite to them. Why is it not “common courtesy” to be nice to everyone?  Why is there such a thing as “common courtesy” instead of just “courtesy.”

I believe Christians wouldn’t have the reputation of being hypocritical or “two-faced” if we took a challenge amongst ourselves to be a little more kind on an everyday basis. How many more lives could we reach? How many more lives could we save? 

Be kind. Love your neighbor. Let’s make the world a better place. Together— regardless of race, location, or economic class. Let’s take a pledge to truly treat others how you want to be treated. Let’s save ourselves from a society that is divided. Let’s reunite our country. With LOVE and KINDNESS.

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