Four Girls Later

In my sweet sleepy town we have a very idyllic downtown area. I should rephrase that. Our once sleepy town has given way to a lot of growth. Much of this growth has come at the bemoaning of many. Unpopular opinion, things that are healthy grow and our area really IS that great! We surely couldn’t keep it a secret forever. Ok, back to the downtown. Having four daughters, I find myself downtown 3 days a week for dance: tap, irish, and ballet to be exact. Rarely does it feel like a drag because I can walk my single favorite street, shop at my favorite cozy bookstore, or grab a coffee and chat with my favorite baristas. I recently was thinking about what a joy it is to watch my beautiful girls, my greatest gifts,  walk in and out of that dance studio week after week.

Rewind many years ago and my relationship with this downtown area was very different. I had just moved back from college and was the life of the party. On the outside looking in I was having “fun”! That downtown held many nights of singing too loud, staying out too late, Sunday fundays, theme parties, and drinking entirely too much. I was not a person that I am proud of. I wasn’t following God, wasn’t inherently valuing others, and I certainly wasn’t loving myself. In fact, there has been a lot of soul work put into forgiving myself for this time and its consequences. 

Maybe at this point you’re thinking what does a dance studio have to do with an old bar scene? 

That bar is directly across the street from my girls dance studio. 

Somehow little by little God has been actively redeeming me. In fact, it was happening all along. He knew during that season of sin exactly how my life would unfold. Even as I rejected the things of God, He knew He was going to bless me with the most incredible family. He knew I was going to park right outside that bar and pray for my girls every night before they went to class. He knew that an area that once held darkness for me would eventually be brought to light. Plot twist – He knew I would meet my husband, fall in love, and get engaged right on that very street! 

I once had someone incredibly steeped in wisdom say to me “God is not a God of visitation, He is a God of habitation.” He doesn’t go away when you’ve misbehaved and come back when you’ve gotten it together. WE do that. So it’s natural to think that, but Him… never.  There is nothing you’ve done that isn’t redeemable. You are worthy of love just as you are. In fact, God has been with you all this time. 

Friends, God has a plan for your life. There is absolutely nothing you can do that can take that away. You are never too far gone. He has redeemed you. Redemption, Love, being Saved… these are verbs. This didn’t just happen one time and it’s over. He didn’t just redeem you. He is actively redeeming you. He did it for me. 

Shine your light. 

Xoxo,

Sara