The first Giving Key I got, had the word "Loved" on it. I had just gone through an extremely difficult storm, and there was nothing more important for me to know at that time, that I was loved. "Good Good Father" became my song. "You're a good good Father, that's who you are. And I'm Loved by You, that's who I am." I had the necklace for no more than a week, when I received a desperate call from a good friend. Her parents were checking her in to rehab in less than a week, and she wanted me to come with her. When we got to the facility and it was time to say goodbye for many weeks, I knew what I had to do. I hugged her tight and told her I always wanted her to know she was loved. So loved. By God. By her family. By me. I told her that once she could grasp that, everything would change. As I took off my necklace and put it on her neck, she cried.
Months later, on my birthday, I was in my room, watching a blizzard outside, and pondering the events of my life recently. I began to sob, overwhelmed by the grace that God had poured out of my life. Six months ago I was in the darkest storm I've ever been in and had barely made it out alive. I hadn't wanted to make it out alive. Six months ago I was desperate. Addicted. Hopeless. Now, I was celebrating my 18th birthday and was alive when I shouldn't be. I was no longer addicted. The world was full of hope. Instead of surviving at the mercy of 2 AM phone calls, now I had the opportunity to love on and pour out to people. I was happy to be alive and loving every second. I was dreaming again. So as my 18th birthday present to myself, I got a second giving key with the word "grace." I hope to wear it longer than 6 days this time, but I'm also overflowing with joy thinking about the day when God will call me to give it away and tattoo that word on someone else's heart.
Months later, on my birthday, I was in my room, watching a blizzard outside, and pondering the events of my life recently. I began to sob, overwhelmed by the grace that God had poured out of my life. Six months ago I was in the darkest storm I've ever been in and had barely made it out alive. I hadn't wanted to make it out alive. Six months ago I was desperate. Addicted. Hopeless. Now, I was celebrating my 18th birthday and was alive when I shouldn't be. I was no longer addicted. The world was full of hope. Instead of surviving at the mercy of 2 AM phone calls, now I had the opportunity to love on and pour out to people. I was happy to be alive and loving every second. I was dreaming again. So as my 18th birthday present to myself, I got a second giving key with the word "grace." I hope to wear it longer than 6 days this time, but I'm also overflowing with joy thinking about the day when God will call me to give it away and tattoo that word on someone else's heart.
