Merry Christmas, Sweet Friends!
Greetings with smiling faces and humble hearts. 2018 has been a year full of goals achieved and proud accomplishments. This is kind of a no-brainer, but success doesn’t equal happiness. And it wouldn’t be a Gonzales Christmas without vulnerability, so here it is.
I finished grad school last month and finally had some time to breathe and listen to my body. I’ve been hustling hard and finding the grit and grind to finish grad school, while at the same time neglecting my own well-being. Avoiding pain and conflict doesn’t resolve it. Shocking, right?
Immanuel means “God with us.” When God sent Jesus into the world, He demonstrated He didn’t just want to be an observer in the lives of the ones He loved. He wanted to be a participant. He wanted to be with the ones He loved. I do too…There’s a big difference between knowing what someone’s doing and being with them while they do it. God knew we’d know the difference too. This has been the easiest way for me to understand one reason that God sent Jesus to us. He wasn’t sent because God was mad at us. He jumped out of heaven and came as Immanuel because He wanted to be God with us.
~Bob Goff in Everybody, Always
This year, I’m giving myself permission to do some soul-searching, to wrestle with God, and to stop running on fumes. And I’m inviting you to do the same. Will you join me and find the courage to do some inner work this year? As a counselor, I sit with people to help them find freedom from their shame and pain. Let’s do the same.
All the love and blessings from our broken places to yours,
Carlie + Robert too <3
Photographer | Grace Hill of Darling Detail
Location | The Scott Resort
