tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439938377402707249.post6075617065697918002..comments2009-07-27T11:43:29.295-04:00Comments on East Side Connection: We all have storiesJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314877425847192038noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439938377402707249.post-43149860934182467302009-02-18T20:52:00.000-05:002009-02-18T20:52:00.000-05:00Traci, I really agree...we all have our stories, n...Traci, <BR/><BR/>I really agree...we all have our stories, no matter what it looks like on the outside. Come from a great family who looks great on the outside and have a wonderful life with my husband.<BR/><BR/>Upon further examination you would find:<BR/> - perfectionism<BR/> - divorce<BR/> - extremely judgemental<BR/> - abuse<BR/> - emotional suppression<BR/> - close family with never ending support through it all<BR/> - stuggle with self and who I am <BR/> - struggles with religious views and beliefs<BR/> - constant need for acceptance<BR/> - music therapy <BR/> - need and longing to help others but a struggle with how to do it<BR/> - fear of being alone<BR/> - dreaming of having children my whole life and never realizing how difficult it would be<BR/> - being a constant realist and glad that I have my husband to be my dreamer!<BR/> - eternally greatful for the gifts I do have but always find time for self pity<BR/> - knowing the right thing to do but usually to not have the strength to actually do it...I have NO ability to stand up for myself, I will almost always opt to make people happy<BR/><BR/>While we all have our stories, I think just reading both of ours is a testimant to the fact that they truely aren't as different as we might all think.<BR/><BR/>While we may have differences I think fundamentally our struggles are all the same. I could go on forever here but will hold the rest for a conversation :)jennynareehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11364418052674667575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439938377402707249.post-58510723209056001462009-02-06T10:07:00.000-05:002009-02-06T10:07:00.000-05:00I grew up in the 'all american family'; success in...I grew up in the 'all american family'; success in the eyes of the world (beauty, athletics, intelligence, security, popularity)... our family had it all. Even in the eyes of the church we were praised (close to each other, no major foibles, dad as an elder and deacon, mom works with the children, brother and sister leading Fellowship of Christian Athletes, involved in young life and youth group, even invite our friends to be involved in these things too)... <BR/><BR/>So, you may be thinking, where is the dirt? Well, under that external (outside of the cup) there was a bunch of junk that we failed to deal with for a long while... I am thankful for the healing that has begun and continues in my family...<BR/><BR/>My story includes...<BR/>Self-righteousness<BR/>Lust<BR/>Making fun of other people to make myself feel better<BR/>Self-loathing because I thought I had too much good stuff and didn't have the right to feel anything negative<BR/>Years of anorexia and bulimia<BR/>Emotional and sexual abuse from a guy in high school<BR/>Comparison with others (especially my brother)<BR/>Placing my father as an idol<BR/>Fearing emotions and shutting them out<BR/>Straight A's<BR/>Captain of the Cheerleading Squad<BR/>Always had a ton of friends<BR/>Continual pursuit of faith in Jesus through all of the mess<BR/>Crying for hours because I didn't understand why Jesus had to die<BR/>Double major in Spanish and Communication<BR/>Telling my grandparents they were going to Hell<BR/>Asking for their forgiveness and now we are building a great relationship<BR/>Working out up to 4 times a day to burn the calories from the gum that I was chewing<BR/>Being looked in the eyes and told that God wasn't punishing me, this truth broke through my world in a way that I will never forget<BR/>Learning to ask for help through equine therapy<BR/>Making wonderful friends in college that have stuck by me through all of this<BR/>Having a wonderful marriage and a husband who is patient and kind with me<BR/>Wanting to control everything around me<BR/>Starting and dropping out of a PhD program<BR/>Realizing that following Jesus is the most exciting thing I can ever do<BR/>"Just" waiting tables and working for my church <BR/>Dealing with all of the emotions surrounding those decisions<BR/>Having my heart break for the sexually exploited<BR/>Realizing that I only care about that because I still seek approval from God and friends (that I already have)<BR/>What seems to me like "everyone" getting pregnant but us and still not knowing what is going to happen<BR/>Going through the roller coaster of feelings surrounding that<BR/>Recognizing that I can trust God... The Lord has been working for thousands of years<BR/>Writing lots of blog posts to help myself figure out some these questions<BR/>Learning how vital prayer is to run to the Good Shepherd<BR/>Clinging to Jesus when he frees my wool from the bush<BR/>Looking for ways to be a part of de-tangling others wool as well<BR/><BR/>So, we all have stories, we all have issues, we all have redemption, we are called to reconcile to one another. I'm thankful that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation...<BR/><BR/>Who wants to share next?tracihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08719462618314913629noreply@blogger.com