I would like to say that I do change well, but I don't. Belgium, even though I loved almost every second of it, nearly killed my body. I internalize things without realizing it. Then my chest hurts and I'm stressed for no reason. It's one of the many things that I need to work on. I have had to learn a lot and process a lot in the last couple of months. It has actually been overwhelming at times.
But, I've had two thoughts running constantly through my head:
1) God
2) How do I eat an elephant?
Let me address the first point. This year I am trying to read the Bible straight through. From Genesis to Revelation. I read through the Bible chronologically a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. This year I decided to from the first page to the last. One thing that has continually blown my mind is how amazing God is. He sent plagues over Egypt, healed the blind, parted the Red Sea, walked on water and conquered death. I was thinking about how amazing God is and then it hit me. The same God who parted the Sea, slayed giants and calmed the stormy sea is the same God I pray to everyday. The same God who cares for me. I was humbled. How powerful is my God!? He hasn't changed. It tells us in Hebrews 13:8 that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." What a promise! What a testimony. I've been drawing comfort from the fact that the God who looks after me hasn't changed from the time he helped David slay Goliath, Peter walk on water, brought the widow of Nain's son back to life and eventually conquered death and sin when He spread His arms and took the nails for me. The power and love that did all those things is mine and, with that, what can I fear? What can be done to me? I thank God He showed Himself to me in such a way.
(So I know this isn't an elephant but it's the closest picture I had to an African animal. Giraffes are really fun to feed. Very cool experience at a zoo in Michigan!)
My last semester of school was very stressful for me. As a Senior in my Spring semester, I wasn't alone. One time I was stressing out and my dad asked me "Krissy, how do you eat an elephant?" I was stressed and didn't see how this conversation would help me get any work done. I responded "I don't eat elephants!" To which my dad asked the same question. I didn't respond. He told me "One bite at a time. Krissy, you can't eat the entire elephant if you try to eat it in one sitting. You must take it one bite at a time." And from that moment on, every time I am overwhelmed by all I have to do, I hear "One bite at a time". I have an elephant ring for the soul purpose of reminding me that the elephant will kill me if I try to eat it all at once! All I can do is one bite at a time.
So how will I get through life? The power of my amazing my God and taking it all just one. bite. at. a. time.
