I have a confession to make to you all. I love Hallmark movies, I really do. I was babysitting this weekend and watched a film about a woman named Caroline who married her sweetheart Neil on Valentine's Day in the early 40's. He left for the war and promised he would come back to her. So, she waited for 65 years. Every Valentine's Day, she would wait at the train station for her love to return home to her. I won't ruin the ending, but I can say without any shame, I cried.
As I watched this film, I began to notice something that I don't see too often in my generation. I noticed that men and women in the generations before me had an attitude and lifestyle of complete service and sacrifice for the betterment of those around them. We hear stories from our grandparents and parents that they did whatever it took to succeed, all while having a demeanor of respect for others.
I attend a young adult group on Sundays and one of the things that we talked about was the characteristics of this generation. The speaker told a story about how there was a survey taken among the leaders of the top 50 companies in the country who hired young adults. The leaders were asked to write down one word that describes the young adult generation of today. After they did that, 200-250 employees of these companies were asked to do the same. The employees said things like "empowered" and "creative", but the word that their bosses said was "entitled".
I heard that and I really wrestled with it. It could be because I am in that age bracket or because I really don't like entitlement. I came home and asked my family what they thought and again, it began to rock my world a little bit. We began to discuss what entitled meant and how it is seen everyday with the youth and young adults of today.
My generation (and the one below) have become completely dependent on technology. There I said it. Smart phones, computers, tablets, you name it - we are addicted to it. It has become something that we have to have at all times. I don't know about you, but I rarely ever leave the house without my cell phone and if I do, I have a mini freak out.
I thought it would be helpful to list a few things we use our smartphones for in case you forgot:
1. Talking/Texting
2. E-Mail
3. Directions/GPS
4. Weather (as if I can't walk outside to figure out what outfit to wear)
5. News
6. Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Blogs, etc...)
7. Games
8. Surfing the web
9. Reading.
10. The list goes on and on and on and on.
11. List is still going on and on and on and on.
Can you think back to a time when cell phones used to be that huge brick with the long antenna that was 2 feet long? Seems forever ago, right? The first iPhone was released in 2007. Not so forever huh.
You're probably asking me why this is relevant to being the "entitled generation", so here it goes. We are taught to be thinkers, problem solvers, independent, world changers. Don't get me wrong none of these are bad things, but this is what I have noticed.
We crave knowledge with a fierce passion and technology provides that to us 24/7, hence the addiction. Look at the list above again and notice almost all of those things provide a vast amount of knowledge in an instant. Again, not a bad thing but I think this generation has started a vicious mindset. Because we are striving to be these "all-knowing" beings, we lose some foundational principals and practices which has easily resulted in this generation being called "entitled". We feel like we are capable, full of knowledge, and don't need to be told what to do.
I believe we have lost the art of serving and respect. We have lost the "do whatever it takes" mentality and replaced it with "do as little as possible to get by". Think about it, when you write something on Twitter, you have 140 characters to "share" knowledge. On Facebook, if there is a paragraph of information, it is almost too taxing to read and you most likely will scroll on by. Instagram is a picture with a caption, and let's be honest, how often do you read the caption? Don't even get me started on reading books.
We use technology to get snippets of information with the least amount of energy in doing so. I watched a movie of Caroline doing whatever it takes while her love Neil was off at war. She learned how to cook without Pinterest. She collected scrap metal because it helped the community. She raised a son while Neil was MIA without any mom blogs. Neil was a lieutenant who had a chance to get home to his love, but sacrificed his trip home to save a fellow soldier who was injured. He had to learn how to survive on an island. He did all he could to keep his promise to Caroline. And in return, she waited for him at that train station.
Stay with me here.
Whether you deny it or not, technology/knowledge has separated us from one another drastically. Caroline and Neil showed that they were committed to one another (while being apart) and would do whatever it took to get back to each other. What if we served each other with that same passion? It doesn't have to be in a love-type relationship either; it can be with anyone or anywhere.
I think we need to begin to really evaluate our priorities and how we can be proactive in losing the "entitled" label. I believe being entitled revolves all around the mindset of "me me me" and disregards the need for others. What if we began to serve and respect others above ourselves? What if we do things for others without expecting anything in return? What if we try to remove the poison of complaining out of our lives? What if we begin to do whatever it takes to succeed even if it means a season of discomfort? God forbid we get jobs.
I hope that I am not the only one who sees we need to make a serious change in our generation and to be honest, we are the only ones who can change it. Let's be in conversation with one another and challenge each other to push above and beyond our "norm" and serve those around us. Let's be proactive in changing our generation's label. I don't want to be known as the "entitled generation", do you?
Monday, December 2, 2013
Saturday, November 23, 2013
5 Reasons Why I Love Being Adopted.
As some of you may or may not know, I was adopted from Bucharest, Romania when I was 6 months old. I wish I could sit down with each of you to share my story, but luckily, my dad (co-founder of International Family Services) wrote it out for you so you can read it while sitting on your couch in your favorite sweats and drinking some of your favorite tea. You know that sounds awesome.
Please take the time to read this story because in reality, this is not just my story. There are stories like mine all around the world of children who were nameless, faceless, and Fatherless and found a new home. Fortunately for me, I am able to use my story to share with people like you the beauty of adoption and the immense need of homes for orphans all around the world.
Click the link below to read how an orphan girl was blessed with the most amazing gift: a family.
A Stormy Night in Bucharest
I thought it was only fitting during National Adoption Month and the season of Thanksgiving to list a few reasons why I love being adopted. It is such a big part of my life and I hope yours as well. So here it goes.
1. I love that my family is what my mom calls, "A bag of skittles." My parents have ten children, six of whom are adopted from various countries around the globe. We all look different and we all love each other the same. I wouldn't want to have it any other way.
2. I love that I am not treated differently because I am not blood related to my family members. Growing up, my parents never let us use the excuse that they were not our parents or he/she was not my sibling. Just because we do not share the same DNA, does not mean I am any less of a child in my home. If we ever did try to use that card, we lost the argument immediately. And we were most definitely grounded.
3. I love being a Mardock. My family rocks, quirks and all! I couldn't have asked for a better family to be in. If you don't know a Mardock, you need to. We are awesome.
4. I love that I am able to witness thousands of orphans all around the world find loving homes. My parents co-founded International Family Services when I was adopted over two decades ago. They have placed (and continue to place) over 4,000 children in homes who would have been on the streets otherwise. My parents (and IFS staff) are real life heroes; aka rock stars.
5. I love that you were also adopted. No, you did not read that wrong. Yes, I have been adopted into the Mardock family, but what is even more amazing is we have all been adopted into God's family, if we choose to be. Jesus came down to this earth and died for each and everyone one of us so that we could be adopted into God's family. All we have to do is accept God's invitation to join His family. Simply put, we are the children of God.
Let's all embrace that we are adopted and celebrate together! It is nothing to ever be ashamed or embarrassed of; quite the opposite actually. It is something we should claim boldly and be excited to share with anyone and everyone. Why do you love being adopted? Because let's face it, it rocks.
If you would like more information on how you can adopt a child, please visit the website below:
International Family Services
Please take the time to read this story because in reality, this is not just my story. There are stories like mine all around the world of children who were nameless, faceless, and Fatherless and found a new home. Fortunately for me, I am able to use my story to share with people like you the beauty of adoption and the immense need of homes for orphans all around the world.
Click the link below to read how an orphan girl was blessed with the most amazing gift: a family.
A Stormy Night in Bucharest
I thought it was only fitting during National Adoption Month and the season of Thanksgiving to list a few reasons why I love being adopted. It is such a big part of my life and I hope yours as well. So here it goes.
1. I love that my family is what my mom calls, "A bag of skittles." My parents have ten children, six of whom are adopted from various countries around the globe. We all look different and we all love each other the same. I wouldn't want to have it any other way.
2. I love that I am not treated differently because I am not blood related to my family members. Growing up, my parents never let us use the excuse that they were not our parents or he/she was not my sibling. Just because we do not share the same DNA, does not mean I am any less of a child in my home. If we ever did try to use that card, we lost the argument immediately. And we were most definitely grounded.
3. I love being a Mardock. My family rocks, quirks and all! I couldn't have asked for a better family to be in. If you don't know a Mardock, you need to. We are awesome.
4. I love that I am able to witness thousands of orphans all around the world find loving homes. My parents co-founded International Family Services when I was adopted over two decades ago. They have placed (and continue to place) over 4,000 children in homes who would have been on the streets otherwise. My parents (and IFS staff) are real life heroes; aka rock stars.
5. I love that you were also adopted. No, you did not read that wrong. Yes, I have been adopted into the Mardock family, but what is even more amazing is we have all been adopted into God's family, if we choose to be. Jesus came down to this earth and died for each and everyone one of us so that we could be adopted into God's family. All we have to do is accept God's invitation to join His family. Simply put, we are the children of God.
Let's all embrace that we are adopted and celebrate together! It is nothing to ever be ashamed or embarrassed of; quite the opposite actually. It is something we should claim boldly and be excited to share with anyone and everyone. Why do you love being adopted? Because let's face it, it rocks.
If you would like more information on how you can adopt a child, please visit the website below:
International Family Services
 |
| My two younger sisters and me. |
Saturday, November 16, 2013
The Girl Who Loves Today Without Thinking About Tomorrow.
Life after graduation is interesting. I would say it is almost, if not, the hardest transition I have ever gone through. But I can also say it is one of the most exciting times in my life as well.
As graduation approached and well after, many thoughts began to consume my mind; thoughts that quickly turned into questions. Questions like, what should I be "when I grow up"? Where should I live? How will I afford being an adult? Where do I find friends? And the inevitable, if/when will I get married?
These are all questions that a young adult asks and tries to figure out as soon as possible. One might say these questions become the black rainy cloud that lingers overhead until answered. But I have recently come to a realization that I felt the need to share with the rest of the social media world. So, here you go.
Why do we become so fixated on the idea that "once I get (you fill in the blank), I will be happy"? Once I get that degree, I will be able to get that job. Once I get married, I will be content in my life. Once I have my dream job, all will be right in the world. The list goes on. Don't tell me you haven't thought this way, we all have. There is nothing wrong with that. But what I have come to realize is if we continue this habit, we continue to miss what is going on today. And today might be the best day of your life.
We are so focused on "getting to that next step", we forget to enjoy the season we are in, whether good or bad. Our natural instinct is to strive for happiness and peace. We don't do well under stress, pain, or chaos. But if all we do is strive for the good and easy, we don't allow the Lord to shine through the hard. Think about it, when we share our "prayer requests", it usually revolves around us asking God to bring us through this trial or to take away the hurt or pain we may be experiencing. I rarely hear us praising for our trials and tribulations; or praying for the Lord to shine through our struggles and hardships.
I think we may have it backwards. In Ecclesiastes 3 it talks all about the different seasons we are going to go through, so obviously the Lord knows they exist. It really is no shocker. So, why not take on the day, whether good or bad, and love it? Why not accept that we will have good and bad days and decide to rejoice either way?
Once we begin to enjoy today, we have to release thinking about tomorrow. Obviously we should have goals and dreams but not allow them to steal away from enjoying where we currently are. Yes, we all want a good paying job that we all love. Yes, we want to get married and have our own family. These are not bad things to desire, but they can dominate our thoughts and can restrict the Lord to work and move in your life.
Being a lady who has graduated from college, I get asked about my relationship status quite a bit, which can cause one to question whether it is okay being single or not; as if having a man defines who you are as a woman & woman of God. I also get asked what my 5 year plan is. If I knew, I would tell you, trust me. I wish I knew where my financial stability was coming from. I get asked all these "future" oriented questions, but is it bad to not enjoy where I am right now?
Should I be thinking once I get these "things" worked out, my life will be perfect?
I believe if we enjoy today without thinking about tomorrow, we allow the Lord to have complete and full reign in directing us to become the women and men of God that He is calling all of us to be. Today we need to rejoice where we are, not where we think we want to be. The Lord may totally change the trajectory of your life tomorrow.
Enjoy being single. Enjoy not having enough money in the bank. Enjoy having good and bad days at work. Enjoy the unknown. Enjoy being obedient even when it is hard. Allow the Lord to shine and bless you through every season of your life. You won't regret it, I pinky promise.
I choose to be a girl who loves today without thinking about tomorrow. Will you join me?
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
-Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
As graduation approached and well after, many thoughts began to consume my mind; thoughts that quickly turned into questions. Questions like, what should I be "when I grow up"? Where should I live? How will I afford being an adult? Where do I find friends? And the inevitable, if/when will I get married?
These are all questions that a young adult asks and tries to figure out as soon as possible. One might say these questions become the black rainy cloud that lingers overhead until answered. But I have recently come to a realization that I felt the need to share with the rest of the social media world. So, here you go.
Why do we become so fixated on the idea that "once I get (you fill in the blank), I will be happy"? Once I get that degree, I will be able to get that job. Once I get married, I will be content in my life. Once I have my dream job, all will be right in the world. The list goes on. Don't tell me you haven't thought this way, we all have. There is nothing wrong with that. But what I have come to realize is if we continue this habit, we continue to miss what is going on today. And today might be the best day of your life.
We are so focused on "getting to that next step", we forget to enjoy the season we are in, whether good or bad. Our natural instinct is to strive for happiness and peace. We don't do well under stress, pain, or chaos. But if all we do is strive for the good and easy, we don't allow the Lord to shine through the hard. Think about it, when we share our "prayer requests", it usually revolves around us asking God to bring us through this trial or to take away the hurt or pain we may be experiencing. I rarely hear us praising for our trials and tribulations; or praying for the Lord to shine through our struggles and hardships.
I think we may have it backwards. In Ecclesiastes 3 it talks all about the different seasons we are going to go through, so obviously the Lord knows they exist. It really is no shocker. So, why not take on the day, whether good or bad, and love it? Why not accept that we will have good and bad days and decide to rejoice either way?
Once we begin to enjoy today, we have to release thinking about tomorrow. Obviously we should have goals and dreams but not allow them to steal away from enjoying where we currently are. Yes, we all want a good paying job that we all love. Yes, we want to get married and have our own family. These are not bad things to desire, but they can dominate our thoughts and can restrict the Lord to work and move in your life.
Being a lady who has graduated from college, I get asked about my relationship status quite a bit, which can cause one to question whether it is okay being single or not; as if having a man defines who you are as a woman & woman of God. I also get asked what my 5 year plan is. If I knew, I would tell you, trust me. I wish I knew where my financial stability was coming from. I get asked all these "future" oriented questions, but is it bad to not enjoy where I am right now?
Should I be thinking once I get these "things" worked out, my life will be perfect?
I believe if we enjoy today without thinking about tomorrow, we allow the Lord to have complete and full reign in directing us to become the women and men of God that He is calling all of us to be. Today we need to rejoice where we are, not where we think we want to be. The Lord may totally change the trajectory of your life tomorrow.
Enjoy being single. Enjoy not having enough money in the bank. Enjoy having good and bad days at work. Enjoy the unknown. Enjoy being obedient even when it is hard. Allow the Lord to shine and bless you through every season of your life. You won't regret it, I pinky promise.
I choose to be a girl who loves today without thinking about tomorrow. Will you join me?
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
-Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Shall We?
Hello World,
Sorry I have not shared with you the things that have been going on in my life recently, I know you have been dying to know. Well, I will spare you the details, but what I will tell you is that I am now a college graduate (woot woot) and currently trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up (isn't everyone?). But here is proof I graduated.
In the meantime, I have decided I am going to live out the adventure called life. This blog has been and will continue to be a way for me to celebrate this wonderful life with you all. Some may be international journeys (you know I love traveling), while others simply may be about everyday occurrences. Either way, life is meant to be shared. We can just call this a new beginning to something great.
With that said, let's celebrate life and enjoy it together, shall we?
You ready?
Sincerely,
Angela
Sorry I have not shared with you the things that have been going on in my life recently, I know you have been dying to know. Well, I will spare you the details, but what I will tell you is that I am now a college graduate (woot woot) and currently trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up (isn't everyone?). But here is proof I graduated.
In the meantime, I have decided I am going to live out the adventure called life. This blog has been and will continue to be a way for me to celebrate this wonderful life with you all. Some may be international journeys (you know I love traveling), while others simply may be about everyday occurrences. Either way, life is meant to be shared. We can just call this a new beginning to something great.
With that said, let's celebrate life and enjoy it together, shall we?
You ready?
Sincerely,
Angela
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