From Blogger to Blogger: A Source of Enlightenment

From Blogger to Blogger: A Source of Enlightenment.

From Blogger to Blogger: A Source of Enlightenment

Tonight, a friend of mine posted a random blog link on Facebook. When I saw the title of the blog post, I decided I would take a look. It read: “God will give you more than you can handle: I guarantee it.” How can anyone guarantee God’s actions and the meaning behind those actions? How can He give us something we can’t handle when we handle it someway or another? After reading the post though, my entire perspective shifted. It appeared I had an epiphany of sorts. I immediately decided to follow this blog because such wisdom as this post contained is rare. The blog is called All our Lemmony Things. I suggest you read it. Then, tell EVERYONE. It really is that good.

For those that don’t know, I am a strong believer in God. I believe everything happens for a reason. I also have always believed that God will never give you something you can’t handle. Or, that was what I believed until reading this blog 3 hours ago. Now, I would have to disagree.

You see, in this post, the blogger, Kayla Lemmon, talks about tribulations that we all face in life. How some are worse than others, while some seem like they may even kill us. And that, in fact, contrary to popular belief, some things we face as human beings, we absolutely cannot handle. That God does not always give us things that we can handle. Instead, God purposefully challenges us with day to day trials, tragedies, and heart break. We face hardship after hardship until we feel as if we cannot handle anymore. Until we are overcome with anger, hatred, guilt, and sadness. At ourselves. At our loved ones. At God, Himself. Why would He do this to me? How could He do this to us? But, that my friend, is God’s point. Yes, everyone must suffer. And yes, sometimes you will not be able to handle it all on your own. But, God never meant for you to in the first place.

Lemmon cites a Bible verse in her post from Matthew 11: 28-30: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me…for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” This verse is in every way perfect. And even a little ironic. Why is it that God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the most self-less being in existence challenges us through hardships, so that He, in turn, can comfort us and give us rest? Because we are His children and He our Father. Because we are intertwined in unimaginable ways with Him and with each other. And because He needs us as much as we need Him.

So, no, God does not always give us things that we can handle. Sometimes He gives us things that we can’t handle because sometimes God needs us more than we need Him. He needs our burdens more than we need them ourselves. Sometimes God gives us things that we cannot handle because he loves us so much that He cannot fathom letting us handle these burdens on our own. He has to take away the pain and save us once more. And that is true love. He gives us things we cannot handle, but He is how we over come these things. He is how we make it out on the other side – smarter, stronger, and happier to face the next challenge that life has to bring.

This is the conclusion I have come to after reading Kayla Lemmons’ post. This is what I now believe.

So, thank you, All Our Lemmony Things, for enlightening me and challenging me to think outside of the box. Thank you for inspiring me to think and grow as an individual and with God. For now I know I cannot handle everything, nor was I ever meant to, and that’s okay.

Everyone Wants Pearly Whites

There. I said it. Despite what anyone says, I don’t think anyone would object to having sparkling white teeth. There is just something so refreshing and intriguing about a person who has pearly whites. You can’t help but stare. Or at least I can’t.

When I am talking to someone that has extremely beautiful, white teeth, it’s like meeting them for the first time. Over and over. I stare and stare. And as much as I try to listen to what that person is talking about, I can’t help but day dream about those sparkling white teeth. They’re so white they are like dentyne ice chicklets. I wonder if they get their teeth professionally bleached. There is no way that is natural. Impossible. Ugh, I can’t stop staring. Wait, what did they just say? Finally, I force myself to look into their eyes with a sudden pang of envy. Why can’t my teeth be that white?

So, instead of feeling envious, I decided to take some action.  But, because I am a POOR college student (literally), I obviously cannot afford spending over $500 on professional bleaching. Nor can I afford to waste $50-$100 on name brand whitening strips. So, when in doubt, go to Pinterest.

I bought a mouth guard for 98 cents and baking soda for 50 cents. I already had some hydrogen peroxide at home because what pre-med major doesn’t (or anyone for that matter)?? And voila. Mix two parts baking soda with one part hydrogen peroxide until a paste forms and put it in the mouth guard then put it in your mouth. Suffer a nasty, chalky, slight burning sensation for 10-20 minutes (however long you can stand it) and then rinse your mouth and you are on your way to those sparkly, pearly whites!!! Do it up to twice a day for two weeks or until you are happy with results. Apparently this is a really successful, cheap alternative… so we shall see! I am on Day #2. I will say after suffering from the chalky, burning sensation, my mouth really does feel fresh and clean. My teeth do look a tad bit whiter too, but that may just be my imagination.

Pearly whites, I’m comin’ for ya.

An Interesting Start…

Well, as you all know, today was supposed to be a very cold day… and it was. Surprise. So cold, in fact, that half of my town lost power because everyone was using so much of it at the same time to heat their houses… Crazy! So of course, my house was one of the many that lost power this morning, and for some reason the loss of power triggered EVERY single smoke alarm in my house to go off. Not one. Not two. But five. FIVE SMOKE ALARMS. Going off simultaneously. Talk about ear piercing. And terrifying. I was sleeping when it happened, and I literally jumped out of bed from a dead sleep, heart pounding and mind racing. I ran and made sure my mom was up and thus the search began to make sure everything was okay. After going outside and checking the house inside and out, we knew we were not in danger. Meanwhile all FIVE smoke alarms were still BLARING… so began the journey of taking the batteries out of each one in order to get them to stop. I finally calmed down but was still unsettled by the fact that they just went off for no reason.. they have never done that before even when we have lost power. It was just so bizarre. At least now I know that I will definitely wake up in the event that there is a real fire and the alarms are going off. It would be impossible not to. But regardless, those alarms were SCARY to wake up to! Needless to say, it was a very interesting start to my day…

Brrrrrrrrr…

It’s so cold!!!!! So cold even, that the school districts have delayed school tomorrow for 3 hours so the little kids don’t have to stand at the freezing bus stop…. only in South Carolina. I’m sure if northern states/ mid western states heard this, they would get a good laugh. It’s not even like there is a chance of snow or anything.. Just an all time low of like 19 degrees with a windchill of 0 degrees. Good thing I don’t have to wake up early and venture out in that freezing cold! My poor dad does though.. so grateful for everything he does for me and my family!

Today was a pretty cold day as well… so I pretty much did nothing. I babysat for 2 hours but other than that I snuggled up and stayed cozy in my bed. I will miss these stress-free days where I don’t have do to anything… 6 more days until school and 5 until I am back in Columbia.