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The Beauty of Tenacity

Tenacity has such a "tough" sound, doesn't it? It brings to mind the thought of someone with a lot of grit, clawing their way past obstacles and setbacks and hardships and even landmines to get to their goal. Someone who has seen the worst part of life, but refused to let it keep them there. Someone who has tasted a bit of freedom and won't stop - can't stop - until they have that freedom in their hands again.
Tenacity is the mother who, after working full-time-plus at her job, comes home exhausted but still takes care of children and makes sure they have something half-way edible in their little bellies before tucking them in with good night prayers. Tenacity is the woman, who endured betrayal no wife should have to go through, but refuses to let someone else's choices define who she will become. Tenacity is the pastor's wife who just needs to know that someone sees her for her qualities, all the while remaining doggedly determined to uphold and support her husband and their vision, simply because he is HER husband. Tenacity is the woman whose single-status has been the topic of many family dinners, but is steadfast in waiting for the RIGHT one, instead of settling for just ANY one.
In all those women, that TENACITY is such a beautiful thing, isn't it? There's just something about knowing what you want, and making up your mind that you WILL reach that goal come hell or high water... You know, for some of us, that goal could just be getting through day-to-day and making sure those we love have no idea of the hardships we go through just to keep going. But we do it. We keep going. After we've done all to stand, we keep standing. We endure.
I was driving home after a flight from Las Vegas - and for this small-town, south Georgia girl, that was quite an experience! - As I was driving home, flipping through the stations I came across a radio show for a ministry I used to listen to quite often when I was younger. This particular episode was featuring an author who spoke about stewardship, and out of the blue mentioned that in Jewish tradition (I'm not Jewish, but I LOVE learning about the Jewish culture and traditions!) something is considered beautiful - get this - if it ENDURES.
Y'all.
Seriously.
I about had church on I-75. I may have alarmed a few of my fellow motorists. I quickly called my fact-checker (aka my husband, who has spent more hours studying the Word and both Christian and Jewish traditions than most MDs spend studying their field) - and he confirmed. In fact he mentioned that's one of the reasons why younger Jews have so much respect for the older generations, because they've been taught that experience and endurance is BEAUTY.
So I cried.
I mean cried...like, snotty-nosed, stuffed up sinuses, ugly cried. On the interstate. 3 hours from home.
God just gave me the confirmation for this next step in my business and ministry. (and yes, I used both of those terms, correctly - which I may share at a later date). Through an episode of a radio show that was probably taped weeks ago....probably about the time that I first felt the stirring of the embers in my soul. You know what I mean....when you know there's something you need to do....and you're trying to figure out what it is...and you know it's probably going to be BIG...and it will take more God than you.
That one.
This stirring - I can't get past it. Because it's birthed in tenacity. It won't let go. And I won't let it go.
Because God has blessed my business in ways I didn't even think would be possible. Not only do I get to help women find their physical beauty again - (sometimes we just forget that we are His masterpieces, you know?) - and I get to help women become their own entrepreneurs and make new goals for their lives & their families lives - but now God is adding another aspect to that.
Does that mean I have this all figured out? Heck, no, sister!
But what I have figured out over the last several years is that as beautiful as we like to think we are on the outside (and believe me, I LOVE having fun with that!) we forget that the simplest form of beauty - is the strength, the confidence, the TENACITY in each one of us.
And just like we sometimes need help learning to highlight or contour our features, sometimes we need help finding that tenacity in ourselves. And sometimes you need that help again...and again...and again.
So come discover with me the beauty of tenacity. And while we're at it, we may just discover our own tenacious beauty, too.
Welcome to Beautiful Tenacity.

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