Be you and you will win every time!

Ruth Graham, the wife of Billy Graham had this written on her tombstone “End of construction, thanks for your patience.” This has resonated with me for weeks since I heard this. For the past two years I feel like I have been under some major construction. Trying to navigate the road ahead and what I wanted in life. Where I was going in life? Was I making a difference? Was I doing my part to leave the world better? I was tired of trying to fit in and not living with purpose. You know what I have come to realize? Be you and you will win every time! Be the REAL you! There is a real danger in trying to live somebody elses’ life. There is a real danger in trying to “Keep up with the Jones.” Social media, fake living, trying to keep up, that’s shallow. The big houses, cars and procedures to look better are fleeting. None of those things truly matter. Popularity and status, that’s not lasting either. 

My soul is so tired of this shallow world. My soul is so tired of drama and trying to make sure or even care if people like me.  Having class is no longer a priority it seems. What matters is how many followers, views and likes we get. What matters is fake friendships with no depth, and worries does everybody like me, and how popular I am. What has become popular is the appearances of what the outside thinks my life is like.  Greed has taken over! The drive for more, more, more has taken over. People don’t sleep, people overeat and medicate away the fear of not measuring up. The fear that they will be exposed and seen for what they really are…humans with fears and insecurities! Just like everyone else! Why this drive to appear a certain way? That is such a facade! I find this so incredibly sad! This is not a life well lived!

Class is not found in the shallow things of this world! Class is living a life of meaning and purpose! Class is making a difference! Class is how you treat everyone! Your spouse, kids, friends, family, employees and especially those who are ‘lower’ than you. We should strive more for class than status and popularity! We should strive more to be humble, grateful and to live a life without arrogance!

What will people say when I die? I hope they say she was always under construction to be a better person. She loved, she gave, she walked in humility with dignity and class. She didn’t let the fear of not fitting in drive her, her drive was leaving everyone around her better. Her drive was helping everyone, she lived a life pleasing to God, humble, without pride, understanding her faults, and showing mercy to all! I don’t want to get caught up in the shallow things of this world that don’t matter! I want to get caught up in being a friend to the friendless and leaving hope to the hopeless! For when we die, the cars we drove, the house we lived in, how much money we had in the bank or if we had thousands of followers truly won’t matter!

I am grateful for success. I am grateful, and it makes me happy to see people succeed and have nice things, but that’s not what I speak of today. I believe people who work hard and give back should be blessed. They deserve that kind of success! Those people; however, seem to get it, never forget where they came from and live their lives giving back. They don’t live their lives driven by greed and attaining things. I believe we all have gifts in life and we are all blessed for the blessing we are called to be. This is the life I want to chase after. I want to chase this calling in life, not chase fame and popularity.

So who and what are you living for today? My prayer is to never get caught up in things that never bring true happiness, but in things that truly matter in life! You see, I used to think a bigger house, expensive car, lots of money in the bank, and tons of friends would bring happiness, but it doesn’t.  I have been around people who have all of that and I realize that alone is not going to bring happiness. Happiness is a life well lived, making a difference, being kind, and always choosing joy! So today, with my heart heavy, I hope you too will evaluate your life. I hope you will truly evaluate your priorities and decide to make some changes if you have been living a shallow life. If you have been chasing and have gotten caught up in the wrong things, that you will re-evaluate what truly matters in this life!

With love for you all,

Shauna