Turn the Page

 Where are all my book lovers at? Does anyone love to read? If you do, we have something in common 😊. Reading is one of my happy places! I have learned and become more open to reading different genres or types of literature. My go- to genres are usually realistic fiction, adventures, and mystery. Lately, I have also added historical fiction, poetry and nonfiction in the mix. Each month, I try to read at least one fiction book and one nonfiction book, so I can have a balance 😊. All the genres tell a different story and have something different to offer. There are books that I have been SO excited to read, and couldn't wait to see what happened next! That's a book I want to keep reading and reading! With other books, I have been slow and more hesitant to turn the page because I didn't want to know what happened next or read the unexpected. Then, when I turned the page, sometimes what I predicted did happen and that made me happy 😊. Other times, it's totally unexpected and it leaves me in shock. Isn't that how life can be? One minute, things are going smoothly along. Then, all of sudden, things take a turn and the unexpected happens. You see, our life tells a story. Some parts are good, and some parts are bad. Some parts are challenging, while others are easy. Some parts are easy to understand, while others are more confusing. When I read a confusing part in a book, I usually re-read it, so I can get a better understanding. When that happens, sometimes I get it, but there are other times that it doesn't make sense until later. Each of our lives tell a story. Each day, we get to live a page of that story. We have a chance to embrace new opportunities and new experiences 💗.  We have a chance to learn, grow, love, and share. We don't know what a day holds, but we can know God is with us. We can be encouraged to know that God is right there with us in every part of our story 😊. That's good news! Every page will not make us smile. We will have a range of emotions in different parts of our story.  The unexpected and the unlikely will happen. But, in order to get to the next day, we have to turn the page. We won't know what happens until we do. Sometimes, I have been surprised at the next event in the book and good surprises can happen in our lives, too. In this year so far, I have already had to turn the page on things that came unexpectedly and were hard to accept at first (perhaps you can relate), but looking back now, I'm like, "Thank you God for still protecting and keeping me!" When it's hard to turn the page, here's what helps me and I hope it helps you:

1. Find things to be grateful for. Every day, we can be thankful for something. If you can't think of anything else, be grateful that you still have life. The Bible says in Psalm 150:6, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."

2. Find things that make you happy. I like to say to find your happy place 😁. It can be more than one place. I mentioned reading as a happy place earlier. I also like being outside and enjoying fresh air 💖. Another place for me is my bedroom and comfy chair I can sit in and relax after a long day. Your happy place may be different than mine, and that's okay.  Make sure you find your happy place if you haven't, and spend some time there each day if you can.

3. Talk it out with God and people in your circle. That's why it's important to have trusted family, friends, coworkers, church/community members, or a combination of them in your life. It's in the moments that you are struggling with turning the page that you can talk to them and know you are not alone. God always knows how to send the right people your way. I'm thankful for my people 💖.

4. Ask God to know when to sit and reflect and when to move forward. There are times that I have gotten to the end of a page, chapter, or paragraph even and had to take a break from reading. I had to reflect and take in what I just read. Sometimes, I pick the book up later and read. Other times, I don't pick it up until the next day. I do try to read at least 15-20 minutes each day (a personal goal I have 😊). In life, there are some situations we have to sit with and process. I'm with you! Then, once we have, we keep moving forward. Even in moving forward, you can still have moments of reflection. Just know both are okay and both are important.

5. Know your story isn't over!  Just because someone walked out of this part of the story doesn't mean it's over. Just because the page took an unexpected turn or surprise you didn't see coming doesn't mean your story is over. It's a part of your story, but it's not the whole story! That's a good place for a praise break! I'm so glad I have to come grasp that because that gives me hope. At the beginning of last week, I had some very exhausting and stressful days, but I kept turning the page and did the things that I shared above. By the end of  the week, it got better- praise God. 

Life is full of moments to move and be still. Know both are important. We have more life to live every single day 💗. Your story isn't over! My story isn't over! So, keep turning the page because you are needed, you are special, and you are loved. May God bless you all!