Accept the you God created.  And rejoice in it.

The greatest gift has been given to me thru a dear sister in the Lord.  She gave me the gift to accept and rejoice in who God made me to be.

As long as I remember, I have had a love for animals.  All of them.  Dogs, cats, horses, hamsters, bunnies, whatever.  And I have always wanted to work with them, help them in some way.  I would have a hundred in my house if I could!!

So, life gets going, dreams drift away in the responsibilties, bad decisions and just the everyday living of life.  I have mentioned this desire over the years to people. And have heard things like, "maybe you can use working with animals to help people", or (and this is a big one I've heard often), " you love animals more than people".   And these things have come from Christians and people close to me.  I am sure they did not intend to demean my hearts desires, but it always made me feel "less than" in who I am.

For the last couple of years, I have been taking care of a feral cat colony.  And the last couple of months I have been helping out at a local kitten shelter.  I have been so happy and fulfilled in doing these things.  It's as if I found my fit!!  If you can imagine being happy cleaning out kitten cages, well you know you have to be given a special love for them, as the littlest kittens can make the biggest messes !  LOL

But again, those old words spoken to me rise up in my head, and I think, maybe this isn't important, maybe it's not what God intends my life to be about...I mean how could it, isn't it supposed to be about spreading the kingdom, saving people, helping others???

And then the words spoken to me by my dear sister: "Seems to me your path is leading to being a caretaker of God's animals on this earth...kinda like what Adam and Eve were supposed to do way back when!"   

She also said, " If something gives us joy and peace, then ultimately it gives Him honor because we are better human beings and show that we are in tune with what He wants us to do...does that make sense?

And it just clicked.  I am doing what God created me for.  He is the one who gave me this heart.  He is the one who desired and designed people to care for ALL of His creation. He gave certain people that task.  He gives different gifts to different people, but they are ALL His gifts!!  And there is nothing, absolutely nothing "less than" about His gift and purpose for me!! I am being who He meant me to be.  That honors my Father.   And I am so grateful to have received this.

Are there other things I enjoy doing, that involve helping people? Absolutely.  Do I know I have to remain in balance?  Definitely.  Do I need to keep growing and refining the giftings God has given me?  Of course.

Two things to take from this experience.  First, those things that come naturally to us, the things that make our hearts sing and rejoice, they are, I believe the gifts that God has given us to use for His purposes.  Take the time to get to know them.  And secondly, if you are struggling with something, know it is not in vain.  As my friend came upon this wonderfully insightful wisdom during her time of struggling and shared it with me, giving me one of the greatest blessings of my life, so too your trials and testings may be just what someone else needs to be helped.  God uses everything in our lives.  I am grateful for her obedience in sending me this email as the Holy Spirit prompted her.

It is so releasing and joyful to just accept who I was created to be.  And as I go to take care of God's creatures, I go with a new purpose, a new mission...to honor and obey Him.

I end this with something else my wise friend said:  "so let go of the things you think you "should do", hold lightly to the things you "must do" and embrace the things in your heart of hearts you want to do!"

Lord, please bless this beautiful lady with joy and peace in You.  Let her know Your love more deeply today.  Help her to hold onto Your hand.  And work all things out as they should in her day.  Keep her safe.  We need her here!!!