A Twist In My Story

Have you ever met someone who completely turned your life around?  If you haven't, you will...someday.

A year ago, I was sitting here.  Right here, on my aunt's laptop in Grand Haven, Michigan with one of my good friends, Martha.  We were probably on this laptop checking out the profiles of the guys that we were interested in at the time. Either that, or editing pictures to load onto Facebook.  I'll admit, so much has changed since then.

You say, it was a year ago, we all have changed...and life goes on.  And it does, life certainly does go forward even if you don't want it to.  However, it is strange to think about what has changed since the last time I was on this computer.  Of course, Martha and I are still good friends.  Even though we don't hang out a lot anymore, we still are always there for each other.  And I certainly am not interested in the boy I was last summer anymore because I now have a wonderful young man who surpasses the other guy by a landslide...and anyone else, for that manner.  So much else has changed, too, but probably some of the biggest things that will ever change in high school has happened to me in the last year.  And when I think about it, it is scary and exhilarating at the exact same time.

I'm not going to go on about what exactly has changed or what my reactions were.  While that is important, there is something else that is even more important: letting change happen (and let God work His magic).  I have been learning that if you have low expectations for change, you will be disappointed. If you ignore it, you will be fearful.  So it just makes sense to have high expectations.

I know, I know.  Everyone says that the key to happiness is to have no expectations at all.  And I agree with that, for the most part. But, why not be excited about new things that are about to happen in life and to have high expectations that God will do something amazing in your life? Now, you can't go on having high expectations within others.  Or within yourself.  People (including you) will always let you down, even the ones you love most.  And you will let others down as well.  It is humanity; yet, God isn't human.  God is wonderful and forever...so why not put your expectations in Him? If you just trust Him, He will do wild, crazy, wonderful things.  More than you could ever dream.  

So I guess that life-changing person I met was God.  I know, I still thought I knew Him last summer...and I did, I just didn't know him as well. God has put a twist in my story.  He has given me a wonderful best friend and a great young man to love so I can be excited about having a future with him.  He has put me here, in Michigan, for one whole week with no one but my family to teach me some great things, I'm sure.  He has given me new friends, while teaching me that others will walk out...and that is okay.  While giving me these things, He has brought about change. For the better.

I'll admit that I never really have high expectations within God.  But I'm starting to...and I know that this week He is going to teach me about dealing with family and little kids...and loving them.  I'm ready. I know it's not really big, great things that I'm learning about.  It's not like I'm in New York City getting the chance to be homeless for one month.  I'm not in Africa with little girls who are infected with AIDS. But God knows that I can just be here, in Grand Haven, for Him to do wonderful things within me as well.

God teaches everyday.  He changes people.  He's going to change me this summer and I'm excited.  I don't have to be in another country across the world. I can just be here with my family, my boyfriend, my friends, and strangers for Him to teach me and change me.  He is going going to put an even bigger twist in my story this time...and I'm ready. Are you?