{Brooklyn} Thoughts on an off day

Today was an incredibly exhausting day with my child. I decided to just pick her up and hold her in a big embrace...until a calmness came over me. I'm thinking I should approach more conflict in my life that way...head on and with an attitude of love.

I have been off today. A friend lost a teacher, mentor, & coach this weekend. I sat and read all of the amazing tributes on his Facebook wall while listening to Hillsong and cried. For a man I never knew except for the stories she's shared over the years. Another friend is worried for her godson as he is fighting for his life in the hospital. And it just seems incredibly unfair that his mother is fearing the unthinkable...losing her son. And yet another friend is being challenged in other devastating ways. Sometimes it's just too much. 

There is just so much pain in this life. And while I have been making great strides lately and finding my place in this world...today I was just overwhelmed with the pain that comes with living and breathing. I felt outside of myself and hurting for others. 

Today I am reminding myself that...
out of darkness comes light,
with much struggle comes strength,
and in the midst of pain there is beauty in this human condition.

I found great comfort in this verse today...

^{John 16:33} “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

I'm holding my girl a little tighter tonight. And although I'm often challenged by her, I'm incredibly blessed to have such a healthy vibrant little girl. She will make me a better person, she already does...