For the first time in 9 years, I'm not having nightmares before the holidays. What is different this year?

In the past year, I discovered the unconditional love of God.

Love has changed my life. Love has erased all fear. Love has empowered me to face my greatest fears this year (flying to a foreign country, going on a TV show to confront a man who embodies my childhood fears).

Love can change the world.

Do you know what I did tonight? I was in the grocery store, surrounded by all these stressed-out shoppers and it suddenly hit me: here we are surrounded by SO MUCH! SO MUCH! We have every possible food we could ever wish for, we have beautiful cars to drive to and from the store, we have money to buy the food....and yet, we're getting all impatient in these store aisles, rushing around all irritated. What's the point of THAT?

And so.

So, I started singing. Yeah, I did. For real. I burst into song right there in the middle of the grocery store. It was just a made-up song about Thanksgiving and the various ingredients we use to make a lovely dinner.

At one point I was literally just like: TURKEY! STUFFIN'! PUNKIN PIIIIIEEEEEE!

And I smiled, smiled, smiled at everyone.

Sure, I caught a few strange looks. But there was this one woman who stopped and said to me: "You know what? I feel that way tonight, too!"

See? Who cares if I look foolish? Spread joy. Share love.

Here's what I'm saying: for most of my life I've been so worried about what people think of me. I've been trying so hard to do it all the right way.

But love has freed me. Love has erased fear. Yes, I fall down. Yes, I make mistakes. Yes, I am sometimes filled with crippling doubt or painful flashbacks.

But this year is different.

For the first time in my life I have become persuaded of God's limitless, everlasting, complete, full, unconditional love.

I would go through everything---EVERYTHING--I experienced just to come to this place. Just to catch a glimpse, just to have a taste of God's love.

Love wins.

Love really, really wins.

I have so much to be thankful for.

THANK YOU for reading, here. Thank YOU for honoring me with your time and presence and love, here.

I love you.

xoxo.

EE.