Kids Rule, Excuses Drool

I think the reason I love being around children so much is because I want to be like one still. Don't get me wrong, I love being able to make my own decisions (with the help and guidance from my wonderful parents, of course) and driving (I really love driving), but there is just something about kids that astounds me. They don't beat around the bush; they say exactly what they are thinking, and there is something extremely refreshing about that. Yes, on occasion they'll announce to the whole room that mom-mom smells funny or that dad's cooking just isn't cutting it, but they don't say these things with the intent to be vindictive or hurtful, they are simply telling it how it is. Children are so innocent. I remember when I was little (many, many moons ago) I believed that I could accomplish anything, aside from choosing my own haircut (thanks a lot, mom). I could be anything I wanted to be. I could travel anywhere in the world. I could marry anyone (and by anyone I mean Orlando Bloom). Any and everything was achieveable. It is this mindset that I see in children that makes me love being around them. They don't see the limits we (I'm an adult, right?) as adults find ourselves facing.

I've been thinking about these limits so much lately. Limits in regards to money, time, opportunity, ect. and the more I think about these limits the more I think that maybe they're just excuses. Excuses to not takes risks, or go against the status quo. Excuses to not follow the path that God has set out for us, especially if that path may be frightening or unexpected.

"'Excuses are not cool!"

It took me about a month to tell my parents that I'm not coming back to school in the fall. I kept running different scenarios through my mind. There were ones where good ole mom and pop were sobbing due to disappointment and shame because their favorite daughter wasn't returning to school to receive the higher education she had sworn to do. There were others where I was 35 and living at home, no degree, no money, no future. I think you get the point...the scenarios I thought up were completely ridiculous. When I finally told my parents I was met with an incredible amount of support. They didn't question my decision once, instead they sought ways in which they could help me along this journey. I also received an insane amount of support from my extended and church families as well. Cards, calls, and short discussions further encouraged me and made me believe that maybe I wasn't so crazy for following this new path. Not once was I discouraged from my decision. Not when I told my friends at school or at home, not when I told my parents, and not when I told my church family. I truly believe that that was God. I was incredibly frightened about this decision (leaving for a year through BVS instead of returning to school) and I believe that God only placed those with positive feedback in my path because He knew how much I needed that support.

So, I'm trying to be more childlike. I'm trying to throw away all of the excuses and limits and believe that with God I really can accomplish anything. And as simple of a statement that that may seem, it can be extremely hard to believe that you can accomplish ANYTHING with God's help. Anything. That's a lot of things. Yes, some of my childhood goals and aspirations may not be exactly what God has intended for my life (fingers crossed that the Orlando Bloom fantasy isn't one of them) but I can't even begin to imagine what amazing, unexpected things He has planned for me!