Encourage

WOW! In just a few short days I will be celebrating my eighteenth birthday, which is super exciting! It feels like I’ve been waiting so very long for 18 to get here and now that it’s just around the corner, I’m finding myself a bit intimidated.

Last night I had a little celebration with some of my closest friends for my birthday and it was absolutely amazing. It wasn’t your typical super planned, totally adorable, birthday party. It was a last minute, grab some hot-and-ready’s kind of thing. Gathered around my dining room table we laughed and yelled and just enjoyed ourselves.  

My favorite part of the night (aside from freaking out over Troy Bolton while watching High School Musical 3 like we did when we were 12) was when one of the girls said “Let’s go around the table and say something we appreciate about Aiselyn.” At first I was a little nervous at the idea, it seemed a bit selfish, to make everyone come up with something they loved or appreciated about me. It turns out I had no reason to be nervous. In a room full of life-long friends the words spoken were sweet, sincere, and truly from the hearts of these God-loving girls. Tears threatened to spill over at the kind, encouraging words spoken by them, and it was so amazing. After the last girl went, I in turn responded with something I loved or appreciated about each of them. When the whole thing finished I looked around the room to see the widest smiles on each persons face. Whispers of “I want to do this at my birthday” flitted around the room as we all realized how important it is to encourage each other.

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

The bible is full of verses about encouragement, and last night made me realize just how important it is.

Although I officially become an adult in 6 days, I’m not intimidated by it like I was. I have God on my side for starters, and right behind Him is my amazing family, and my absolutely stellar friends. Each one of them affects my life in a different way and I am so thankful for each and every one of them.

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go”