unwrapping

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past year it’s that life isn’t always wrapped up nice and neat with a pretty bow on top. In fact, I’d say the majority of the time there are rips in the paper, the tape has come undone and the bow is missing altogether. The thing I’m constantly trying to remind myself is that just because the wrappings are falling apart doesn’t mean the package inside has become any less valuable. And, if I’m being honest, my vain attempts to keep the package looking pristine on the outside are nothing more than my need to control how life is going and how others perceive me. I know I’ve made great strides in the last year with letting go of perfectionism and the need to control everything, but there is still more to let go of. I want to roll with the punches, see where the wind blows me and not freak out if things don’t turn out how I
planned…or if they do. I want to embrace the rips in the paper, the ungluing of the tape and absence of the bow, because it’s always been in those times that I’ve found out how beautiful life really is. Through the pain and trials of life we grow stronger in faith and perseverance and love. We find out who our Maker made us to be. We find another layer of paper even more stunning than the one we’ve been trying to show off. I’m ready to see the next layer…are you? Happy unwrapping.