I have finished my first semester of medical school!! I feel like it is a huge accomplishment to be able to type those words. This past semester has been many different kinds of difficult. It has been quite different than I originally thought it would be.
It has been a constant challenge to continually give my dreams back to the Lord. Dreams of "doing well" by my standards in medical school and succeeding the way it seems like all my classmates are. Yet, in the back of my mind knowing that His plans are good and always right. Even when they seem frustrating and so wrong at the time.
I passed all my classes this semester and learned quite a bit while doing that. We have two more classes that carry over to next semester and then have four more classes that we take next spring.
Medical school is changing my life... It changes the way I relate to God (in a totally great, new way). It changes the way I relate to other people (I'm a little afraid it's made me wayyy socially awkward!). It changes the way I see the world and all the God has made (I'm in more awe than ever). It makes me depend on the Lord more than I ever have before. And makes me fall more in love with Him than ever.
This break is much needed and I am enjoying every second of it. Time to read, journal, spend with family and friends. Eat food, read books, watch TV.. I am not taking any of it for granted. People have told me that I would love this Christmas break more than any other in my life and I think they were correct!
I feel like I need a little time to recharge and regroup myself before heading back into the hustle and bustle of school again. And I like the recharge. I like the opportunity to go to the movies, love on people, run, walk my dog, blog, read books, live life away from the school for a few weeks.
I am so incredibly thankful for this opportunity to be in medical school but sometimes I have to take a step back and realize that this is not my whole life. It is a big part of it.. but not my whole life.
And for that I have Jesus to thank. For a little baby who came quietly into the world (relative to how He could have/should have entered) .. into a stable with a teenage mom and older dad who had no idea the extent of what their lives held.. I am so thankful for that night and who that baby grew up to be. King of the world and my Savior.
"If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the next." (Elisabeth Elliot)
I read this quote today on facebook and it immediately struck a chord in my heart. How often do we try and find our true happiness here on Earth? We try to fill and fill our lives and hearts with things that will make us happy here.
Like good grades or jobs falling into place after graduation. There are so many things that we reach after and spend our lives trying to achieve only to realize they are fading as quickly as the morning fog.
Lately I've been realizing how much the Lord is teaching me about humility and pouring myself out completely to let Him fill me up. Emptying myself of all preconceived ideas and expectations. Knowing that He is good and Holy and worthy of all honor and praise. And knowing that He loves me with a love that is beyond my comprehension.
Knowing those two things, reinforces the fact that I trust Him. And reminds me of the bold, yet true statement that I also believe: I would rather stand beside Him in the rain than separated from Him in the sun.
The Lord is constantly pulling me back to His heart and reminding me that His thoughts and ways are so very different than those on this Earth. It's His heart that I long to know more... not to please those here on Earth. I pray that never changes.