Page 38 - EW Magazine 5-2 FINAL

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38 extraordinary women Volume 5 I ssue 1

We are all created with immense purpose. To grow and contribute something of lasting value to the world, to others, and to those we love is our greatest heart cry. It will not be silenced and the pressing question—“Who am I and why am I here?”—will persist until we find our place and have done something that mattered.

Even Jesus did not feel fulfilled until He had com-

pleted what He was sent for— telling His disciples after His encounter with the woman at the well, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” He was energized every time He shared with someone and they got it—it fed Him to give light and life to others. There is something that satisfies us more than the food we eat, the trinkets we acquire, or even the accolades some have the

good fortune to collect. It is living up to the fullness of our God-given purpose… knowing and doing what God put before us to accomplish. However, for many this is where the struggle begins. That question—“Who am I and why am I here?”—repeats itself. Perhaps the reason the answer eludes many is because they make it more complicated than it really is. Who you are, and why you are here, is just

that… to be who you are. Let’s face it, now you’re really stuck… right? Mary, Martha’s sister, didn’t really do anything earth-shattering, did she? Yet, Jesus Himself memorialized her! She was simply a woman who loved the Lord, followed the instinctual prompting of what she was doing, and ended up being renowned for it. So while we seek to be deep, weighty and complicated— thinking the more intricate the web we weave, the greater work of art will appear—her example teaches us that, perhaps, the profound is much simpler than we thought. Making a lasting difference comes in many surprising ways—simply sharing a cup of tea or having an unplanned conversation… whatever it is, just being who you are can be so impactful. But how do you develop who you are into someone who has that type of impact without even thinking about it? I believe the life of Mary holds the answer.

Develop a Listening Heart This is the only way to develop your spirit. It is the heart

women in the word

M i c h e l l e Mc K i n n e y H a m mon d

Life is distracting. It can throw you off your center so easily if you have not learned how to ground yourself and hear the still, small voice of God within.

A Diva is as a Diva Does