My faith is at the core of who I am and colors every part of my life. Faith is a work in progress, always, and I think it should be. I must fail to learn a better way forward. Many wise people make up my inner circle. Having the ability to reach out, anytime, to any of these people is a blessing I know some do not have.
Almost, always, when I think the sky is falling, or I am having a meltdown, I need some levity and Biblical perspective I reach out to my cousin (who is an ordained minister). His wisdom, life experience, and our similar personality traits allow him to help me see it is not as bad as I think. In addition, I am doing better than I give myself credit for, and even if I am not it is going to be okay. Why? love has already won the ultimate fight. Therefore, I/we can: make mistakes, ask for forgiveness, learn the lesson, use the lesson to help others, and try again to do better. God and Jesus do not expect perfection from me, or anyone else. The story of Jesus tells us God and Jesus both understand humans are not perfect. If we were: Jesus’ earthly life would not be needed.
That begs the question what do God and Jesus want from me? Belief in what I cannot see. Trust in both. Honesty about my humanness and my shortcomings. A willingness to keep trying and share my story and journey with the world. They want me to use my story, journey, and gifts to help others understand what thriving with cerebral palsy looks like from my perspective. Not only that, but to encourage others to overcome their own challenges/leave the world better than they found it, too, even if they do not share my faith. That is exactly what I promise to continue to do.
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