In the past few months since I moved to Asheville, I have gone through a couple of situations that made it necessary for me to stand firm in who I am, and principles that I believe in. I have had to make the choice to voice my concerns and draw boundaries and make changes to protect my health. This has not been easy. In fact, in both cases I almost just slipped back into people-pleaser mode just to keep the peace with other people. However, I realized that *I* was not at peace. Therefore, I chose to listen to myself.
This weekend I have been thinking about that a lot — listening to God and myself. I realize now that by following health and listening to God, that I open myself and others to receive the blessings and lessons that God has intended. When I become selfish and swallow my pride, and refuse to move just to save face or avoid a confrontation, I could stand in the way of what God would like to do through me and for others. I choose freedom. Freedom does not always come easy, but it sure makes life worth living!
