“Amazon reminded me that your birthday is coming up.”
I had to laugh at the text from my twin sister. What would we do without Facebook and Amazon reminding us of the birthday we’ve shared for the last 32 years? {grin}
When I was little I had so many dreams and ideas of the type of college I would attend, the work I would do, where I would live. I imagined the friends I would meet when I was in my 30s, and the conversations we would have. I assigned words to my future self like: successful, powerful, intelligent, independent. But I never thought about the character of the woman I would become.
Birthdays make you reflect, the same way the New Year inspires us to set goals. And the more birthdays I have, the more I’m learning to embrace who it is God created me to be.
- I’m introverted, but not shy.
- I love words and I process by writing.
- I’m a good mama and wife, though I’m far from perfect.
- I believe the internet can be used for good.
- I cherish good friends, good food, and laughter.
- I actually like the woman God has refined me to be.
It’s been a long journey to feel that way. A couple years ago I would have described myself as bitter and angry. I was mad about brokenness and injustice, and I refused to trust women because of several broken friendships. I didn’t know why it was so easy for others to make and keep friends when I felt like I was always failing. I’d put on my brave face, pretend to be more extroverted than I am, and still end the day wondering what I’d done/said wrong. Worry turned to anger and anger turned to paranoia as I removed myself from community.
And the less I invested in the lives of others, the more they assumed I wasn’t interested in being invited.
The same way God has slowly taken me on a journey to discover my “thing,” and the same way He has healed and redeemed those hurts and many more, He’s slowly opening my eyes to the type of woman He wants me to be. As I dig through stories of women in Scripture, God is introducing me to the character traits He wants me to pursue.
This week, as I enter a new year and pray about what’s to come, God introduced me to Rhoda. I knew the story around her, but never saw her name. She appears so briefly in Acts 12, the servant girl of Mary, mother of John Mark and aunt to Barnabas. Distracted by the wondrous account of angels releasing Peter from prison, I’ve skipped over her in the past.
She’s known for her joy. Rhoda’s joy at hearing Peter’s voice was so overwhelming she forgot to open the door to let him in the house! The house was full of people praying for Peter’s release, and she was the bearer of such incredible good news that they didn’t believe her at first.
There are so many reasons she shouldn’t have been mentioned in this story. She was young. She was a woman. She was a servant. She didn’t respond perfectly and no one believed her. And yet, there she is, in three verses of Scripture, mentioned by name, and I’m so glad she was because I admire her joy.
I want this next year of my life to be defined by joy, encouragement, and hope. I want to be so overwhelmed by the good things God does and the prayers He answers that I get lost in the excitement. I’m asking God how He wants to me to share those with the people He brings into my life, from my toddler and husband to new friends I’ll meet online.
Don’t let the negativity of the world discourage you from sharing joy. Let’s be bearers of good news to those who need to hear it. Let’s offer hope that no one needs to be perfect to make an impact in the Kingdom because Jesus is perfectly able to fill in our gaps.
My birthday wish today? Let’s be joy-sharers and encouragement-givers and hope-bringers this year — and always.
[linebreak]
Crystal,
Happy Belated Birthday :). Thank you for sharing your testimony of how God transformed your bitterness into joy…He’s pretty miraculous that way. It is so easy to get caught up in the negativity and pessimism around us, but knowing Jesus (like Rhoda) and knowing the end of the story brings me joy. I also agree, that when we find our God given niche in life, there is indeed joy that comes from that. Thanks for an uplifting post this morning to start my day!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Not belated at all, Bev 🙂 Today is actually my birthday! So thank you so much for your sweet words & encouragement. They’re the best gift a girl could ask for!
Happy Birthday Crystal and to your twin sis, too. What would we do without them? 🙂 Thank you for introducing me to Rhoda, the beautiful bearer of joy. I am reading through the New Testament and am actually at Acts 12. And just like you, I have skipped over her in the past, but not today. Thank you for the joy-filled post.
Thank you for the sweet birthday wishes!
Crystal- what a wonderful goal for this year and always! I’m praying God keeps lighting up those character traits He wants you to pursue. And, you can be sure I’ll be going back to reread that account of Rhoda, in the Bible! It’s amazing how we can skip over things, isn’t it? But God…
It’s becoming one of my favorite features of Scripture – no matter how much I think I know it, there’s always something more!
Happy Birthday! Please know how much this blessed me! I’ve been very discouraged in makung new women friends, but your story fave md renewed hope to keep trying. Thank you!
Praying for you today Leslie {{hug}}
Happy Birthday Crystal! Good word! It is indeed true, we can still have joy despite our circumstances by remembering what He has done in the past, and by remembering how active He is now in our lives. It is easy to get caught up in the moment of the negativity. I was taken aback by a reading as if I hadn’t seen it before of from Colossians 3:15. A version says “And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts…and be thankful. Changes my perspective, and now the mindfulness of keeping these in my heart! Joanne
That’s beautiful, I’m so glad you shared Joanne!
Happy Birthday 🙂 And thank you for sharing your heart! I am blessed by your vulnerability and self-reflection. As a fellow-introvert and a woman who also has broken friendships sprinkled throughout her past, today I’m simply blessed to hear your story and to know I’m not alone in that feeling of not quite “measuring up”, or always striving for “perfect” friendships when really perfection isn’t what I need. Thank you, Crystal!
You are most definitely not alone, Elissa 🙂 Thanks for making me feel that way, too – it means so much.
Happy Birthday Crystal! I can relate to your story. I have security issues and trouble making and keeping friends. I’m not an extrovert but people may easily think I am. Truthfully, i would like nothing better than to wrap myself in a blanket and read a book..alone! But i still want to have friends i can count on and people i know I can call when I need them. But i don’t have a lot of those because I shut people out , out of fear and insecurity. Thank you for showing me there is hope!
Sending hugs, Alyssa – praying you would be encouraged today and that some of those hard things would be healed and redeemed. There is definitely hope!
What a smart idea, to set some character goals as each birthday rolls around. And oh, I want to be one of those who helps fulfill your birthday wish: to be JOY in our world! Thank you for the inspiration, Crystal.
Thank you so much for your sweet words, Nancy! You ARE a joy 🙂
Wonderful thoughts here, Crystal! Thanks so much for your encouragement today. (And Happy Birthday!)
Thank you so much, Barb!
Crystal, Happy Birthday! What a great goal for this next year of your life—to share joy. I think I need to take lessons from this. 🙂 I’ve definitely let the world’s negativity determine my actions and choices to not embrace the joy God gives each of us. I’m going to work on this. Beginning now.
Loved your post.
You’re off to a great start 🙂 Thanks for those birthday wishes!
Thanks so much for this today… I could have written half of it, though I just turned 50! I am inspired by the word Joy too. Perhaps next year I can have that word. Happy, happy birthday!
Happy Birthday dear friend! I’m so grateful that God made you and that He uses you to teach us and encourage us and make us laugh and enjoy a good story together. Grateful for you today!!
This is what I have strived to be these many years of knowing Him…”a joy-sharer, an encouragement-giver and a hope-bringer”…but today I needed these things. Thank you for writing this for me today. 🙂
Bless you and a Happy Birthday!
Crystal who told you?! When I read your story I thought “That describes me!” Well, mostly. So I figured someone must have told you about me, lol. Wow, look at God work! He is good! I understand the bitterness and disappointment all too well of broken friendships and not being able to trust. And longing for that one sister-girlfriend you can rely on and confide in, only to be heartbroken. But I’ve learned (am learning) to not be dismayed; to trust God and know that He will provide. So I LOVE how you speak about Rhoda and how she’s known for her joy. She is a reminder to us to be a “joy-sharer, encouragement-giver, and hope-bringer!” Love it! I’ve got to tweet that for you! God bless and keep you!! And Happy Birthday to you and your sister!!
Thank you so much, Carolyn 🙂
Happy belated birthday Crystal! I’m a twin too! Thanks for sharing your story. Seems we’ve both walked a familiar road. I’m always so blessed by your post.
Crystal – I love your authenticity and willingness to share! I can so relate to your story… God seems to be raising up a generation of writers to encourage and share joy! Thanks for being an encourager to me!
I guess I had never picked up on Rhoda’s story, either. I had to go back and re-read those few verses. I love her excitement! Thank you for the reminder today…to have joy in all of our circumstances, and to SHARE JOY with others. God is at work around us!
Crystal,
Happy Belated Birthday! May God give you and your sister many more birthdays to share!! 🙂 I’m currently in a season where I need my unhappiness/bitterness to be turned back into joy! (It has lasted 16 months now). It seems I’m letting some negativity discourage me and sour my attitude. I’m working daily on being an encourager to others and trying not to let my circumstances make me bitter. Perhaps when I truly find my niche and determine how I want to spend the rest of my life I will get my joy and happy back!
Thanks for an uplifting post!!