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Writer's pictureAlicia Saint Ives

Choose to Live

One of my fears is that I’ll spend my life indefinitely waiting for something to happen before I truly live it. That I’ll wait for the relationship, or the job, or the money, before I am truly experiencing every bit of beauty this world has to offer.


I’ve known lots of unhappy people and many of them were always waiting for perfection. I saw this with my mom. I loved her, but we had strain in our relationship. I think mostly because she wasn’t happy with her life. She had a picture of what it was supposed to be and it didn’t turn out that way. She grew up privileged but my family was poor and she never got the lifestyle that she desired. If the details of any situation weren’t exactly the way she envisioned them she didn’t want any of it. She constantly spoke of “someday”. Someday when we had money, someday when she felt healthier, someday when everything was the way it was “supposed” to be. But someday never came.


I appreciate the lesson I learned from my moms someday focused life, and that is that nothing is ever perfect.


“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am…I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians‬ ‭4:11-13‬


I think we take Philippians 4:13 out of context and apply it as “I can do anything I want with my life because...Jesus.” This diminishes the power of this verse. It is telling us is that no matter what our situation we can be content. God gives us that strength. The source of that power is that He is SO GOOD that He overshadows any temporary circumstances.


Being content is an amazing way to live. My house isn’t the fanciest, but I love it. I don’t have all the money in the world, but my needs are some wants are met. I’m single, but I have beautiful relationships with people that love me. When I look at what I have instead of what I don’t I realize that I have a whole lot.


Life isn’t about perfect situations, it’s about making the most of what is in front of you...and realizing that what you have in Him and through Him is so overwhelmingly incredible.


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