Hidden Treasures

We’ve had beautiful spring weather this week here in the northeast. It was revitalizing to move my office outside to work. The blue sky, bright sun, billowing clouds and singing birds energized me.

Last weekend, Eva Marie Workshops hosted our first-ever two-day workshop event. It was well-attended and a success! It was also the first-ever book signing for our inspiring speaker, Nicole Branstetter, and each attendee received a signed copy of her book. I love when plans like this all fall into place! It was really a lot of fun.

As I was cleaning out my kitchen junk drawer this week–a fun thing I like to do as it’s like a treasure hunt in which I never know what I’ll find!–I reflected on what Nicole had said about the junk we carry around within–guilt, shame and unhealthy belief systems including the lies we believe about ourselves. Our creator sees us as beautiful, unique and talented with wonderful gifts to share with others, but we don’t always see ourselves this way. 

When we recognize the internal junk we’ve allowed to pile up, we can start to work on it. As we become more aware of it, we can chip away at it and start to see results. We take beautiful steps forward and we start to shine. We’re more confident and positive. We believe in and like ourselves. We see our worth and value. 

Like my junk drawer in which I found an earring I thought I’d lost, a rock that my grandson had given me, one of his Hot Wheels and his Pez candy dispenser, we all have hidden treasures waiting to be rediscovered. There’s so much goodness deep within us waiting to emerge. As we allow it to come forth, we start to see ourselves as God sees us, and a whole new world opens up to us. 

One of the most important things I’ve learned is that my past doesn’t have to define me in the present or future. There are parts of my past that I don’t like, and for a long time I was ashamed to share about it; but now I can because I see myself through God’s eyes, and He loves me just the way I am. I don’t have to live up to society’s expectations of who I should or shouldn’t be. And I don’t have to do any of this on my own. Sharing my experiences even with just one other person helps us all to grow and feel less alone. It took a long time for me to really grasp all of this, and there’s still junk to clean up and treasures to be found, but I feel so much freer. 

I’m thankful for the woman I’ve become and am still becoming. I always want to be looking for my hidden treasures. One treasure God has revealed to me: my past helps me to help other women. That’s a beautiful gift for me now that I see my junk differently.