My team reminded me I needed to share a business tip today. Instead, my fingers typed a love letter to myself, from God. Naturally...
And I want to share this because I have a feeling there are a lot of women out there that are in pain, that may feel alone, that lost their job or their marriage or their parent. Maybe you lost that dream or the baby that was growing in your belly. And all the while, you are supposed to wake up, to get up, to take a step, to go to work, raise your kids, try to stay health, learn, grow and get through it all.
Whew. It's hard. I know it firsthand. HOW WILL I RAISE ZOEY WHEN I AM BROKEN HEARTED? HOW WILL I PAY ALL THE BILLS WHEN I JUST STARTED A NEW BUSINESS AND AM NOW DIVORCED? HOW IN THE WORLD WILL I DO THIS?
You will. I did. I am. With joy (yes).
And while you wake up each day and you go forward, I bet you are doing 100x better than you think. God reminded me of these things this week. That I have done better than I ever thought I would amidst trauma and massive life changes. Trauma I didn’t know how I’d get through and just like that, here I am, thanks to Him. Thanks to me waking up, making intentional choices to move forward, one day at a time. With love and grace. For myself. I strapped that oxygen mask on myself each and every day. I was loving myself and not really aware. Until this moment when God stopped me from sharing a business tip.
Alas, this love letter was written. If this was my life the last 3 years I can only imagine what God is doing to do the next 3. The next 10. I’m here for it. Even when the storm comes, I know I’ll be okay. No, I’ll be amazing. Because God is faithful, He is good and He loves us deeply.
Dear Ann,
Wow. You did it. No wait, you did more than it. You did all kinds of things. You are doing it. We are doing it. In the work and in the stillness and in the surrender. Wow.
You quit your corporate job to become an interior designer, with no formal training or education.
You became a business owner. Hiring people and learning about finance and operations.
You went through a divorce and became a single mom.
You refinanced your house, becoming the sole owner.
You used your savings to pay your car off.
You slept 8 hours a night.
You brought people alongside of you.
You opened up, you prayed, you shared, you cried.
You gave your time and donated your finances.
You ran your fastest mile.
You marveled at my sunrises and sunsets at the beach.
You prayed more and read my love letters.
You grew your business 7X in 3 years.
You loved Zoey so, so well.
You gathered your finances to move one of your dreams forward - Studio 790.
You said yes to the woman’s retreat and the Tony Robbins trainings.
You took vacations.
You waited.
You woke up at 5am, before the light of day, getting to know me even more.
You invested in yourself, one hour of therapy at a time.
You asked questions.
You opened your heart back up again and you let love in.
And you loved.
You loved others.
And you loved me.
I’m proud of you. Let’s keep doing all kinds of things together. Keep the faith. I am working, in the peaks and in the valleys.
I am working. Trust me, grab hold of these promises and let these reminders encourage you. That even amidst your hardest season you were a warrior. You still are. I made you this way. Keep going. I have a lot more for you. And your work is working. Your surrender is productive.
I love you,
Jesus
P.S. It wasn’t a coincidence that when you typed this love letter the song “Goodness of God” came on. I know what that song means to you. I gave it to you. You never have to worry about my goodness running out. It’s always going to run after you. I promise.