Live. Laugh. Love.

Over the past few years, I have often seen these three words together and always wondered why. About 7 or 8 months ago, I was visiting a family and they had a plaque by their front door with it, and I began to research. I found it quite amazing how many translations there were for these words, but only one of them did I fully agree with and come to cherish in my day-to-day life...

Live fully...

Now, more then ever, do I believe this. For many years, I was living life under the radar, trying to get away with as many things as possible without feeling the wrath of God (although, I wouldn't have admitted that at the time). I was trying to be in control of my life, but it prevented me from living my life fully. Just under a year ago, I had an awful experience, which included alcohol and not remembering a lot of things...something I'm not too proud to say I did, but I know I am learning from it. I call that night/morning after "God's wake-up call" for me. Not too long after, I went to Blizzard and got connected back in the things I knew was right, met a boy who believed I could lead a better life then I had been living, and had a lot more accountability from friends to keep me on track. Ever since then, I have been trying to live my life fully; fully for God. I am normally a happy up-beat person, but I have also seen a remarkable change in my heart and my soul in the past year. So, I encourage you to live your life fully. As Proverbs 11:28 says, "A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree."

Laugh often...

This one isn't as 'heart-felt' as the first one...but I do believe that laughter can heal a lot. It reminds me of the scene in "Sex and the City" the movie, where Carrie, who is heart broken and doesn't think she'll be able to be happy or laugh again, finally laughs because something REALLY funny happened. Anyways, I know that when I'm in down and in depressed moods, I have those friends that I can count on to cheer me up, because they have ways of making me laugh. It's amazing the power it can have if you let it (plus, it's a good little work out on your abs...a good 5 minutes of laughing a day is like a whole bunch of sit-ups apparently!)

Love deeply...

This one is the tricky one, as I have been learning over the past year. God has been teaching me so much about love, and different types. The first is the love that he has for all of us, as his children. It's something that is unfathomable, but yet we try to fathom it...even though it's impossible...that's how amazing his love is for us. Sometimes we may not think of it in that way, as the horrible things in life we sometimes blame him for. But no matter how upset I am, I am learning that in the end, He does have a plan and he has 20 bazillion/gazillion better things ready for us when we meet with Him in Heaven.
The second love, is the love He has given us to give to others. There are two types within this one..the first type is the love we are to give to those we do not know and/or do not care for personally. Unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world, and no matter how hard we try, not every single person in this world that we meet will like us. But we still have to love them with God's love. It's not easy, I can tell you that, but it is what we are called to do in His name. The second type of love is for those that we care for, and allow to know the 'real' us (whoever and whatever that means). This is the dangerous one...as many of us give that love away too quickly. I, myself, am guilty of that...probably a few too many times. And the hurt after they 'stopped' loving me, taught me that my intentions were selfish, and not Godly. I feel that God has blessed me with the ability to love, but that doesn't mean I don't struggle. Sometimes I love too easily and get hurt, or I have trouble loving because it is a difficult route to follow (depending on the circumstance....the first happens more then the second). As sad as this portion has been, there are many rewarding aspects to loving deeply, as there are some incredible relationships that you can have because of it.

These three words are what I live by. I try to live fully, laugh often, and love deeply every day. When I do not feel I have accomplished these things, I ask God to give me double the amount of opportunities to do so the next day, as there is no time to lose out on things like that...life is too short not to live, laugh, and love.