Count it all JOY: Humility

 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" 

James 1:2-4

I headed down the street with the evening sun warm and inviting. I quickly turned my head thinking I heard a car behind me and felt my ponytail whip across my face. 

I felt every strand, I felt the wheaty texture brush across my cheeks. 

I FELT my hair touching my face. 

Humbled. 

I was flooded with humility. It was less than 3 years ago I was running the same route with a baby soft head, bald, sick, cancerous, fighting all of hell for LIFE. 

It was one day not so long ago I was separated from my siblings in foreign homes confused and alone. 

It was one day not so long ago I was jumping out of a single wide trailer running as fast as I could from midnight chaos. 

It was one day not so long ago I was holding my mother's hand at 18, as she lied lifeless, alive by machines and tubes begging God for her to open her eyes. 

It was one day not so long ago I just wanted to fit in, I wanted to be part of something, I wanted to feel love, not shame. I wanted to feel security not fear. I wanted to trust not doubt. 

HUMBLE beginnings. 

As I turned my head I turned back in time. I reminded myself that no matter how far I have come, NEVER forget your yesterdays, stay Humble and count it all JOY. 

Consider it JOY

Many of us have had our faith tested. 

Growing up in the chaos of addiction, foster homes, losing both parents by 18, the struggles of being married young and making better decisions, life continued to present many trials, many struggles. 

Consider it JOY. 

No matter how ugly life got I still showed up, smiled, laughed and never gave up. 

Consider it JOY

I am grateful for all those trials, I am humbled by my yesterdays. And I always want to embrace my yesterdays trials with grace, with love and with forgiveness. 

Consider it JOY

I was not and I am not a VICTIM. 

I AM victorious through Christ. 

Even in my WORST, I have so much to be joyful for. 

Consider it JOY

My humble beginnings taught me to love genuinely, to forgive deeply, to give grace upon grace as it has been given to me. 

Consider it JOY

I am a simple ragamuffin from a trailer park of chaos and addiction. I am a little loud, a little broken, a little messy with a vocabulary that says words like "Fart knocker" and "Butt munch". 

I am just as happy to eat hot dogs as I am filets. I love garage sales and "Hand me downs" make me smile. 

Consider it JOY

The truth is, I am blessed abundantly with nothing but BREATH. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. There is nothing in me that is great, it is Him in me. The Lord opens doors and shuts doors. The Lord is my security. He is my Identity. He get the Glory. When my TRUST is fully in HIM, the outcome no matter good or bad is HIS. It is my response that illuminates my Faith in HIM no matter the outcome. 

RUNDOWN:

"Live Life with great Humility." 

Don't take the EASY Road.

I have gotten up and out the door in the rain and lightning and smiled the whole time. Everyday is a gift. Even on my bad days, oh yeah BABY, I have bad days, I have whispered to myself "Count it Joy Anita". 

I get to FEEL the FEELs. I get to feel the good and the bad. Just like my running, I don't have to run, I GET TO! 

Oh I have JOY, I have another breath. I have another smile. I have this crazy wild and free life that gets to run, gets to love, gets to smile, and gets to give Him the Glory in my Ragamuffin testimony. 

Weekly MILES: 33 miles

Monthly MILES: 93.5

In Peace, Not Pieces,

Anita~