What captivates you? What comes to thought when you see something or someone that become shockingly in awe of? Is it the wonder of colors in the world that we see on daily basis? Is it a newborn that’s wrapped up in an adorable baby outfit? Or the Northern Lights in Northern Ireland? There are millions of beauties in the world that each of us can name, can savor and recall the most beautiful of memories. Now I would propose what captivates you about you? Yes. You. I know it may have gotten a little awkward. Some of you may be asking Ashley where are you going with this? I don’t necessarily like talking about me. Look, I totally get I don’t like talking about myself either. I feel like I’m bragging on myself especially when my friends who are getting closer to me find out I’m multi-talented. They say “What?! You do this and that? How come you didn’t say anything?” Again, I don’t like to talk about myself. Until one day I asked myself. Why? Why don’t I like to do that? The first thing I said was humility. Yes, I will be honest a part of it is but there’s another reason. A part of me said you’ve let the uncontrollable of life bottle the part of Ashley that was meant to shine and to shine bright. It goes beyond your personality and accomplishments. It the gifts and talents that you give that God has given you. It’s what makes YOU bloom. We can’t control anything outside of us, but we can say no. I’m not going to allow what has happened to me to bottle up or suppress what’s meant to get out. So that I can be captivating. I can be the awe in this crazy world. Why? Because it’s how God made you and I to be. Captivating.
I’ve been around the block a few times and this world no good things to say about women and how a woman should feel and be. I’ve had my run arounds with am I enough just as me? With no strings attached. Do I have something to offer? Am I different? Unique? Breath taking? Not because of my exterior but my soul wants to be released. Will people cherish it or walk on it? The answer to all of these is yes. You may have been wondering the same. You maybe 13 years old reading this. And guess what I’m a grown woman. These questions don’t really go away as we get older however we choose to either grow in us in who we are or we become stagnant and wilt. Never thriving to our full potential. Here’s what I learned what I learned in bloom as a woman.
- Embrace who God made you to be. Knowing that God has great plans for your life.
- Don’t try to figure everything out. You’ll hurt yourself.
- Not everyone is going to be your friend and not everyone wants to be your friend. A lot of people in general have “Me” motive and you’ll see in time
- Being beautiful in the world’s perspective isn’t all the hype. Learn what true beauty is and stand for it. Be the example to the younger generations.
- Jealousy never looks good on you.
- Be thankful, generous, and kind. That will set you apart from the others.
- Read about whom God is so that He can tell who you are
- Never give up on your dreams whether it’s on a global platform or more intimate one. Never give up.
I would like to end this blog with what God says about you. Take a look.
Hosea 14: 5-6
“I will be like dew to the people of Israel. They will blossom like flowers. They will be firmly rooted like cedars from Lebanon. They will be like growing branches. They will be beautiful like olive trees. They will be fragrant like cedars from Lebanon.”
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Malachi 3:17
“They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.”
Isaiah 61
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
Go and bloom like the flower you were always made to be.
With love,
Ashley
