Bingo

I say Bingo a lot. Funnily enough, it's not usually when I'm playing Bingo. I say it when I'm really happy about something. Like when my favorite song comes on the radio, when a friend has exciting news, or when I go grocery shopping and see that Oreos are on sale.

I tell you this for two reasons:
1) I'm about to say it again, but when I do, I want you to take me seriously because
2) This summer, I have been reeeeeally happy about something. His name is Jesus Christ.

I've been learning about Jesus since before I can remember. Mary and Joseph were His parents. He's my big brother. When he was 12, He was already teaching men who should've been a lot smarter than a little boy. He did nice things for everyone, even when they were mean to Him. His fishing skills put those guys on Deadliest Catch to shame. He suffered for me. He bled from every pore for me. And then He died on something called a cross for me.

Believing those things really made my life beautiful. Through trial and error, I discovered that living my life the way people told me He lived His made me happy. It seemed as perfect as a fairy tale. Except that sometimes it felt a little bit too much like a fairy tale. Don't get me wrong. I continued to believe it, no matter what kinds of doubts popped up because more than anything else, I wanted to know it was true. I just had a hard time putting my complete trust in someone that floated just a hair too far from my fingertips. It's a beautiful story. But could something that seemed so incredible actually be real?

Fast forward to this summer. I'd come home after a year that had been much more challenging, confusing, and difficult than I'd expected and I was feeling broken. Needless to say, I was thrilled at the prospect of having four months away from everything. I had a part-time job set up, I'd be with my family, I'd get to spend time with my best friend before she left for her mission, and I'd have the time and hopefully the clarity to reassess who exactly it was I wanted to be. Beautiful plan. :) Oh boy. I had NO idea.

You guys, this summer, I got to know Jesus Christ. I put away the distracting music. I spent time with my Bible and my Book of Mormon. I looked closer at my life and started to notice His hand woven into every bit of it. I took the testimonies of friends and family that I'd been hearing my whole life and then I prayed to my Heavenly Father asking if He could maybe help me to see what it was they saw. Then I shut off my mind and listened to Him with my heart instead.

Could something that seems so incredible actually be real? Um. It's real. People. He's real. He suffered for you. He loves you. Oh my heavens, He loves you. But don't just take my word for it! Learn for yourself. Because then you can say it with me...

Bingo. :)