In the past whenever something good happened to me I would say "I am so lucky". I used this phrase more than a million times. "I am so lucky to have such great friends in my life". "I am so lucky to have such a loving family", "Wow i'm having a lucky day "I am so lucky...". 

This past year I have realized its not luck that is making my life great. It is because God is blessing me. Sure I have struggles and issues in my life but that doesn't change the fact that I have been blessed by the creator of the heavens and earth who loves me and wants to have a relationship with me.

If you are anything like me you thank God when things in life are great. But recently I have thanked God when things have been hard and not so perfect. And that has been a huge change.

These past few months have been a struggle for me. I have had to say goodbye to the most influential and important people in my life. My family and best friends. I find comfort in these people, joy and most of all love. But through every goodbye I realize more and more of how blessed I am. When I hug my friends goodbye and as we walk away to go on different paths in life I think about all they have done for me and how thankful I am to have them in my life.

"Goodbyes are inevitable. And maybe that’s okay. Maybe it’s what we need to really appreciate the people in our lives, to stop taking relationships for granted, to be fully aware of the gift."

 This quote was written by my youth minister Mark Paul, he is a incredible man of God and truly has a gift for the challenging job that he puts his heart in soul into. He's another person God has blessed me with.

All of the goodbyes that I have been making recently has opened my eyes to all of the "gifts" (people)that God has placed in my life to make me the person I am today. I'm not perfect but with God's "gifts" I have grown. 

There is one last story that I want to share, since the 3rd grade I have been going to Dunwoody Baptist Church. This church is a second home and family to me. Last Sunday I was able to share my trip to my church and prayer requests for my upcoming trip. It's called "commission" and the entire church prays over my mission. My old neighbor, close family friend, and pastor was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer about a month ago and he went through his first round of chemo. He wasnt sure if he was well enough to preach that morning but he wanted to lead my church in prayer over my trip. He came to the service and prayed over my teammates, myself, safe travels, good health, and for my parents. While he was praying for me I could feel God holding me and comforting me. I felt the stress and anxiety of saying goodbyes and preparation for the trip lift off of my shoulders. While my pastor Mack was praying both of my parents were in tears( especially my Dad). Some of my close friends were crying as well. It was a unforgettable and special day for my family and I. Thanks to the encouraging and loving words that Mack said I am prepared to say my goodbyes and live the life that God is calling me to do!

 I'm not writing this blog to brag about how much I have,  I am writing this blog to encourage whoever is reading this to thank God for the people you have in your life, sure there will be problems in our lives but I know there is one person out there that loves you unconditionally, who forgives you no matter what, and who will NEVER leave your side, that’s Jesus Christ and man has he loves us!

1 Thessalonians 5:18:

"give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

We are not lucky. We are blessed.