In my journal on 12/31/10 I wrote “2010 was about loss, I want 2011 to be about love, only love”. Sometimes its best we not know what the future holds because if you had told 2010 me about 2011, I might have ran the other way.
To quote Love Actually, one of my favorite movies, “Let’s go get the s&$# kicked out of us by love”. Yep, that is how I feel right now, at the end of this year. But I’m so thankful for it. Thankful and grateful for love kicking the s#&% out of me:)
My 2011 started with my first trip to Haiti. It was kinda like diving in the deep end of love and struggling to stay afloat. That trip set the standard for 2011. It made me question life, what we were doing, how we were making the most of our mist (James 4:14).
(me with possibly the cutest baby ever in Haiti on our first trip)
Those next few months were growth. Being intentional in loving deeper, messing up alot, and thanking God that His grace is sufficient and made perfect through my weakness.
Sometime in July we made the decision to move to Haiti. We kept it under wraps, almost as if it were hard to believe the decision ourselves. Then I sat at my grandfathers funeral and heard this, a quote from the Painted Drum”, “You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up”. We made the big announcement in August about our move.
We then spent a week in Haiti with a group from our church. We came back and I faced the biggest kick in the face for this year. It brought me to my knee’s. That situation still makes me sad but I can honestly say that was the turning point for me in my quest for love. Godlike love. It made me realize my goal is to have the love that Jesus had, not some conditional love that runs rampant through this world (and the church). I want to be able to sit with the least of these and love them unconditionally. I yearn for that. For the hard stuff, loving someone in spite of everything. Understanding that everyone is fighting a hard fight, so be kind.
When I wrote “I want 2011 to be about love, only love.” I had no idea I would be sitting here today, 31 days away from moving to Haiti with a completely different outlook on love, having the s#&$ kicked out of me by love in 2011. It is mind boggling to me of God’s goodness.
So here is to more love in 2012. Because that is actually all there is.
This post was part of the One Day in December series that me and some of my lovely friends are doing. Tomorrow’s #1dayindecember11 will be over at the awesome Kiss my Tulle.
Love Actually rocks! Great quote, you didn’t offend me at all. Great quotes here to live by too.
Hooray! It’s always so amazing to me to see how God takes our hopes and dreams and weaves them together in His plan. I think it’s so cool that many times the most awesome stories include “Uh, that’s not what I meant, but I will take it.” I can’t believe that you’re so close to time for Haiti – it seems like yesterday that I read y’all had made that decision. I can’t tell you how encouraged and challenged I am by your determination to love!
Good luck on your move. That’s amazing that you’re going there and not many could do the same.
Such a brave but beautiful thing to do and you got your wish. Be careful what
you ask for you might just get it x Wonderful xox
Thank you so much, Shannon – such a beautiful, beautiful post and a great way to kick off ODID
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One of my favorite movies ever & a great quote! : ) I’m so happy that you’ve gotten to where you are and are loving it. One of the great things about you is your ability to assess yourself so well and make those difficult decisions to get to the place you’re supposed to be. It’s so inspiring to see!
Having that Godlike love can be such a crazy hard thing to do sometimes… and this: “Understanding that everyone is fighting a hard fight, so be kind.” is SO perfectly and succinctly written it tugs at my heart.
What you are doing is amazing and I hope it is as wonderful for you as it will be for the people you will be helping. Best of luck.
You have a big heart Shannon! Best of luck with the move!
I agree with Orly! Be careful what you wish for as you just may get it. Love is so very powerful!!! I wish you the best and much more in 2012.
I am so excited for you and your fam! Your heart for God is truly inspiring and I have no doubt He will have your cup running over in Haiti. I cannot wait to read about it!! Best of Luck!
I continue to be inspired by you and all that you do for others! I can’t wait to see what your journey brings this coming year and in the years to come!
This is a beautiful post. I went to Haiti in August of 2010 and it rocked my world as well. What an amazing journey you will have moving there, and what courage to take that step of faith! I pray that God blesses you through it, and the lives of the people you touch there. xo