Dear, Sister...

Dear Woman,

Be still. You are loved.

The fact that you are here, alive, with the warmth of life moving through you, means your story is not finished. You were created intentionally. Your ministry, spirit, radiance, and story are required. Only YOU can show up for, impact, teach, inspire your corner of the world the way you do. Remember that every time you are tempted to question yourself.

There is purpose, even when you cannot clearly see where God is taking you. Learn to listen for the voice that is always guiding you and trust the direction you feel in your heart. Trust your passion, tears, joy, hesitation. They are tell a story about your calling and the road map of your life. Of course the trail may not have ended up where you imagined it would but that's because some of us are called to be explorers.

Remember that God is the source of understanding. Trust yourself but trust God first. He is present in the doors that open, the ones that close, the people who help you and those that reject you, the dazzling moments and the evenings of weakness. Every single possibility is giving you a lesson about yourself and your next step.

There is something entrusted to you, something that must pass through your hands before it reaches the next person. Think of it as a baton. You do not have to carry the entire race, but you do have your portion to run.

It will not always be easy everyday.

There will be obstacles. Some you will overcome seamlessly; others will knock you down hard on your ass.  It's fine if you are tired. You are allowed to lose your center of gravity sometimes. Expect to go so far off course one day that you will wonder whether you are truly capable or worthy. Just remember to hold on to none of it.

Keep going. There is no single version of you.

You are allowed to change your mind, your hair style, your job and your man. Commit to nothing that no longer meaningful to you. And wear your scars - physical or otherwise with pride. Your are not damaged, your are a conquerer. Good for you.

Congratulations. You know things now that you could not have known before the struggle. You can honestly say: This is who I am. These are my strengths, my limits, my boundaries, my needs, my convictions.

So what if yesterday slipped through your fingers? Let it go.

Today is here begging you to do something with it.

Here's to another opportunity to rise, to try again, to continue building on what you started yesterday, or even a year ago because you rested or paused to recalibrate. It's also ok if that thing is still inside you. 

There's still work to do. Don't apologize. Take up space, sister.