Rev. Isabel Perez

Little story for all of you.

There was once a man who had gone out on a fishing trip, alone. He had fallen asleep while out on the sea and got caught up in a horrible storm. The man became shipwrecked on a very remote island. There was nothing for him to eat, there were ferocious animals, and he was alone.

The man, with a great deal of effort, built a beautiful thatch house to protect himself from the ferocious animals. He learned to hunt and cultivate his own food. 6 months had passed, and one day, like every other day he built a fire to keep himself warm that chilly evening.

The man fell asleep before turning the fire out, and the fire ran wild. It burned down everything he had worked for, and built in the last 6 months. The man woke wildly and ran from the fire, barely escaping with his own life. As he looked at his home burning, he asked God, "Why, why me. Why put me here, desert me, and now take away my home like this?" The man fell asleep crying, and scared. His last thought it was, "how could God leave me here to die alone?"

Morning came and with it, in the not so distant horizon, he saw an image of an approaching boat. The boat got closer and closer, and he ran to it - arms in the air screaming, "I am here I am here."

When the men on the boat came ashore the man who had been stranded on the island for more than 6 months asked, "How did you know to come get me?" One of the men on the boat answered, "Well, that brilliant smoke stack and fire last night was the perfect indicator of life. We came out immediately to come get you."

There's a moral to the story... hear me out-- Good can come from the bad times. Even in the darkest of times; when we feel there is no one: God is there. Even in the worst of situations: God is there. Take every single moment in your life, including the very darkest ones and look for God. Wait for him. I promise you, he will be there to turn it all around for you. He will take your darkest moment and make it your saving moment. You are never alone

Hey... You... On your phone, laptop, tablet. In the kitchen, in the bathroom, at work or relaxing in bed.

Stop hating yourself for not being their version of enough. Unfortunately, you won't ever be their happy place. But, that's fine, because your singular job in any relationship you maintain is to be authentically you. That's it. Just be you.

If being you does not bring your "loved" ones happiness, that is their problem. And, I do not mean to imply that every part of you and your actions are perfect... But, all of your parts should be accepted and enough. You are enough.

When someone projects onto you that you do not make them happy... Do not internalize this if you are truly and earnestly working to be a good person whom loves them unconditionally. Do not let it waste your spirit. Do not let people's "emotional vampires" stuck out your personal happiness with their self-deprecatory projections. You are enough.

If they tell you that you are not enough for them: using whatever words or actions they please... Remember, you are enough. You don't ever have to be everyone's enough, but you are certainly enough. Enough to have made it here today. Worthy... You, are, enough.
Rev. Iz

"HUGS = Helping Others Grow spiritually"

"Hate begets hate"

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