Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

I cannot tell you how excited I am for Thanksgiving break. I honestly think that if given the opportunity I could sleep for a whole 24 hours straight. This morning I had an exam at six o'clock in the morning. I walked out of my exam feeling like the world was crumbling around me. I knew that I didn't do good and it really made me question my ability as an athletic trainer. I am so stressed about school and life in general. I am supposed to be at the end of the tunnel with this semester but it feels like at the end there is a brick wall that I will run into. I struggle getting up in the morning and look forward to going back to sleep, because where there is sleep, there is no stress. Between class, clinical, cleaning the house, giving up bread and pasta, and trying to balance my life in general, I feel like everything is going to fall around me. They say that this is the hardest semester in the athletic training major, and I am starting to believe them. 

I understand why college students, like myself, are stressed. One bad grade can ruin every chance you have at following your dream. Grad schools don't want students with Cs, they want students with Bs and As. And heaven forbid you don't have any extracurriculars, such as clubs and community service. Furthermore, if you don't have a full ride you have to have a job on top of all school things. (A little shout out to David. He works two jobs, goes to school, and coaches little league. I don't know how he does it!) I have to eat healthy because I don't want to gain weight. And luckily for me, I walk to my classes so that is how I get my exercise. 

I talked in the last blog about how I haven't felt like I was worthy. Let me tell you, I'm not. I fall short of the glory of God every day. I fail Him. I let Him down. But luckily for me, God is a great God. He loves me despite my flaws. His plan for my life is bigger than my own plan. He has blessed me immensely. I get to receive a great education that will further me in my life plans. He gave me the best parents a girl could ask for. I get to be the big sister to three amazing girls who never let me have a dull moment. I have awesome friends who understand how demanding athletic training is and can sympathize with me. I need to start remembering all that God has blessed me with and not be so stressed out because He holds me and He guides me and He is AWESOME!!!

If you're feeling stressed like me, here are some fun things to try to do to relieve that stress! 

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."- Colossians 3:17

I have always been one who loves credit. I love for people to see my accomplishments and congratulate me on them.  The only reason that I will put a lot of work into things is to receive the praise. However, recently while in class I watched a Ted Talk video on Youtube. The speaker in this video was Julie Taymor. She talked about a time when she was younger. She was in an exotic place among the locals there. She said that she was sitting underneath a tree in the dead of night, when the aboriginals came out and danced. They didn't dance for others, they didn't put on the costumes so others could see, they did for God. That got me thinking! 

Like I said, I always do things for the credit. I study so I can make good grades so my parents can tell me how good I did and how hard I worked. I'll do my hair a certain way just to make sure that someone says that it looks pretty. If David and I make dinner and he cooks the meat, I'll make sure that I get credit for the rest of it. But how screwed up is that? 

I shouldn't be getting credit for any of it. I don't do it just because I want to, I do it to make myself feel better. What does that say about me? The credit shouldn't be going to me, it should be going to God. I shouldn't feel the need to point out the good things that I've done because I shouldn't feel the need to be reassured by people here on earth. God is the only reassurance I need. The good things that I do should be offered up to God, for His glory, not for mine. 

God is responsible for everything that I am. He made me in His image with His likeness, yet for some reason I want to take the credit. So, from now on, I am going to try to work not for my glory but for His. So that everyone can see God radiating out of me, rather than me radiating out of me. 

If you would like to watch the video:

https://www.ted.com/talks/julie_taymor_spider_man_the_lion_king_and_life_on_the_creative_edge?language=en