I am The One: Finally Finding Me by Rochester-Dix Sherylynne L

Author:Rochester-Dix, Sherylynne L.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

Those words brought a ray of hope. The type of hope that provoked excited chills. With this newfound life, I jumped out of bed and said out loud, “Because of You, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

Excitement filled the air. I thought of the many possibilities that the future held. I was ready—ready for what the future held.

“Thank you, Lord!”

Chapter Seven

Pastor Maria stood at the front of the room, her presence commanding yet warm, as she surveyed the group of women seated before her. We’d all been through a lot in this bootcamp, but today’s session felt different—more personal, more intimate. I leaned forward slightly in my seat, eager to hear what she had to say.

“Ladies,” she began, her tone soothing yet filled with conviction, “we’ve spent a lot of time this week talking about relationships—relationships with God, with others, and with ourselves. Today, I want to focus on something we often overlook in our busy lives: dating yourself.”

A murmur of curiosity rippled through the room, but I stayed quiet, letting her words sink in.

“Some of you might be wondering,” she continued, her gaze sweeping over us, “what does it mean to date yourself? It means taking the time to appreciate your own company, to get to know who you are when no one else is around. It means treating yourself with the same kindness and attention you would give to someone you love.”

Her words struck a chord with me. I had never really considered the idea of spending intentional, quality time with myself—time that wasn’t just about getting through the day, but about genuinely enjoying my own presence.

She smiled, her expression softening as she shared more. “I remember a time when I was struggling to find peace within myself. My focus was so centered on taking care of others, on meeting everyone else’s expectations, that I forgot to care for my own heart. It wasn’t until I began taking myself out to dinner, going for walks alone, spending time in prayer and reflection that I started to heal.”

The room fell silent as her story resonated deeply. I felt a lump form in my throat as her experience echoed my own struggles.

“And let me tell you,” she added, her voice growing more emphatic, “those dates with myself were transformative. I learned to listen to my own thoughts, to cherish the quiet moments, and to reconnect with God on a deeper level. I discovered who I was, free from the noise of the world telling me who I should be.”

A tear slipped down my cheek, which I quickly wiped away. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear this.

“So, here’s my challenge to you,” she said, her eyes twinkling with warmth. “Tonight, take yourself out on a date. It doesn’t have to be extravagant—just something special, something that allows you to spend time with yourself and with God. Reflect, pray, simply be.”

Excitement buzzed in the room, but I remained in quiet thought. The idea of going out alone, intentionally, felt both daunting and liberating.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.