Death To Pageants

Yes, I made you look but before you forward this to your friends and tell them Gabby's lost it hold your horses and read to the end.

"Death to Pageants" is really a sentiment all girls feel when they lose. We get over the sting of losing then write a nice status about how we've grown, how we've met amazing young women on our journey, and talk about other positive learning experiences we had as a result of competing. We definitely mean all of those things genuinely, but deep down inside we want to scream...IT'S NOT FAIR!

We privately chat to our friends about how pageant politics played in "this" girls favor or how "that" girls board prepared her better. We argue over who gets the best sponsors when they win a certain title and rush to work with the same coach another person used because that particular person made top 10 using that that coach the year before. Some of us break down statistics and wonder if a singer won this year will the judges want a dancer next year? If you are a minority, you are often not worried about the talent that;s popular to win. You wonder will the pageant organization I am competing for finally encourage judges to pick someone who is black, asian, or hispanic?  In 2015, yes some of us have to ponder these thoughts. Especially, if in some states only 2 or 3 minorities have EVER held a state title in over 70 years of holding the state pageant.  We talk about how sometimes mean girls fair the best in pageants. We also analyze how how nice girls often get a pat on the back the good job "You're All A Winner" speech, but not a single award/trophy at the end of thier competition.

What I've learned BEYOND ALL OF THE DRAMA in my previous paragraph is that in life. NOT JUST IN PAGEANTS, sometimes things have to die and we must let them go. When I lost my last pageant, I wasn't mad about the money, time spent, or the sacrifices because I knew despite the loss, God still had plans for me! Some plans or ideas will just not pan out the way we think they should, and guess what... you move on ! You can't hold onto these broken pieces of life.  

We know that according to the bible Jesus warned us ," In this life you will have trouble but behold I have overcome the world!" LIFE WILL BE UNFAIR SOMETIMES. Life will have obstacles and troubles, but he works out EVERYTHING for the good of those who love him! There may be a job YOU are the best candidate for and you don't get it,but guess what? GOD ALWAYS HAS A BETTER DOOR for YOU TO WALK THROUGH. There may be a guy you love and want to build a life with, but if he walks away you can't hold on!! Even though you maybe the best thing that ever walked into his life, if he doesn't want you, you can't throw your pearls before swine. Swine/pigs eat slop. They don't know the value of a precious and rare pearl. (That's scripture lol) You are precious, don't devalue yourself for anyone.

In essence what I am trying to get you to understand is that you should put "death to all things that hold you back from greatness". If a journey is over, let it be. Don't go through your list of should've , could've, and would've! What I love about flowers is that when the petals die they fall off and only the colorful lively parts remain. In our lives there are things that just have to die and float away while we continue to bloom! It is ok to let go. I know it's hard. I've had to let go many times and it hurts, but the pain eventually goes away.

So be rebellious with me and brush of negativity others like to dwell in. Let's let go and simply follow Christ to our great destiny. Take the lessons you've learned in your experiences and use them to propel you to your bright future. Don't ever stay mad at anyone or anything that does you wrong. THANK them for being a catalyst to your inevitable success. Remember, the story of Joseph in the bible? He was special and was given the colorful coat by his father that made all of his brothers jealous. They were so jealous they sold him into slavery. After being a slave for many years , everything Joseph did as a slave was so blessed he was eventually elevated to one of the highest positions in the land alongside the king. The next time he saw his brothers was when there was a famine in the land and they were bowing down at his feet begging for food.  They didn't even know it was thier brother until he unveiled himself to them! He forgave his brothers and told them if they had not sold him he would not have been in that place of honor helping his family get out of the famine they were in!

God has a place of honor for you. I dare you to look beyond any present failures or unfair circumstances and see the glorious plan he has awaiting you!

Be Blessed! 

Love...Gab

When Love is Wrong

 As I was packing for the big weekend ahead,  (Miss Georgia Week 2015!!!) I thought about a conversation I had with friends over the weekend, and I just had to sit and write a blog. Now, most of us are single or in some type of "limbo" with a lover, haha, but I realized many dating decisions made are the result of a mindset. If you do not have the right mindset, then emotions , anxiety, fear, and pressures from life can really affect your decision making when it comes to love. REAL LOVE protects one's own heart, as well as looks out for the interest of the person you choose to date. You can't let infatuation lead you, anxiety of being alone overtake you, fear of never finding someone make you settle, or pressure from family to have kids/get married make you stay in BAD relationships.

Human beings have this way of thinking if I constantly please myself, if I selfishly live life to fill my every desire I will be happy! That is such a lie! Have you noticed how certain celebrities who have everything, indulge in everything, and rarely tell themselves no, live the most depressing lives? They aren't happy because happiness does not come from a person or material things!  TRUE HAPPINESS COMES FROM WITHIN! You must first be content with who God has made you to be. You have to rest in his good plan or else you will dig deeper holes for yourself by making your own plans. In dating, you can not look for someone to fulfill your need for happiness or to just fulfill your lust. You will remain empty and always unsatisfied.

When love is wrong, muster up enough courage to walk away. If you are attached to someone you KNOW is wrong and you can't seem to pull away, pray. Say, "Jesus...you know my struggles. Help me to listen to you. Help me to find my escape and be free because your word says, He who the son sets free is free indeed!"

When love is wrong, we potentially delay the one God has for us... STOP THINKING FOR NOW AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT PROVIDE YOU WITH A BETTER FUTURE!  If it is the wrong time for a relationship, have enough courage to wait on GOD. IT IS WORTH IT.

<3
-Gabby

P.S prayers up as I compete this week for the title of Miss Georgia!