Parker XL September Issue 2017 | Page 2

Photographer | Mimi Nguyen Retouching & Graphics | Parker & Reid An Open Letter The alarm would sound any minute. It was time. Time to open my eyes, sit up and face another day, with the world spinning at a rapid pace. I started the inner pep talk immediately. Maybe today will be longer and better. Things can’t get any worse. Well, maybe they can. No, God’s got this. I had this conversation in my head before my feet ever hit the floor. Circumstances overwhelmed me and had begun to take a toll on my body as well. I knew God was with me; I’d known that since I was a child. But my life and self-belief had taken a wild detour, and I found myself in a very imperfect world. The unexpected journey of life transitions. Being a role model to my younger siblings and peers trying to stay unbreakable. Now looking ahead, my desire for “success” in all forms of happiness, wealth, passion seemed bigger than God.In my desperation, I didn’t just pray: I cried to the Lord. God was not just near, but that He would get me through this. The Holy Spirit prompted me through this reflection. That’s it! That’s what I need to remember! When I feel like giving up, I don’t have to comprehend the entire journey in the moment. I only need enough strength to take one more step, being the product of a single mother I’ve learned how to be strong and unbreakable. I can take comfort in the fact that God’s plan is always bigger and better than 2 mine.