Three hills I will die on.

You are meant to remember, often.

Isabela Faith

Your first post always feels overwhelming. There is this pressure to perfectly introduce yourself, and honestly, I have no idea how to do that—so I’m not going to. Instead, I decided to swing so far in the opposite direction and kick this off with three hills I will die on. I get it, I’m guessing half of you clicked off already and the other half are probably never coming back after reading this. But hey, I’m nothing if not authentic.

First hill, remembrance is an essential spiritual discipline.

The call to remember is littered throughout the Bible, and the repetition can make it start to feel like a filler word—something we passively engage with instead of actively obeying. I think that’s a dangerous place to be. You are meant to remember, often. You are meant to remember what you were saved from and let gratitude grow in your heart as you recall the faithfulness of the Lord. Actively trace the faithful thread of God in your life. Deuteronomy 8 is Moses reminding the Israelites of provision they so quickly forgot—miraculous provision in the wilderness that you would think no one could possibly forget. Random food appearing daily for forty years? Shoes not wearing out while wandering endlessly? I would love to say I would remember too, but if I’ve learned anything in my whopping 24 years of life, it’s that I am a whole lot more like the Israelites than I care to admit. So remember. Choose to remember. And do it often.

Second hill, you are not entitled to being understood.

I get it—I desperately want to be understood, in a major way. I often find myself in conflict because I was misunderstood, like most people. But in this day and age, I feel like we’ve started treating being understood like it’s a right, and it’s not. Would we all feel better if everyone understood why we did something, why we said something, and why we are the way we are? Of course. But it is not essential. Sometimes you are misunderstood and you don’t get the luxury of being fully known in every moment. And still, you have to be kind, treat people with respect, and move on with your day.

Third—and probably the most controversial—hill, the lack of getting ready significantly aided in the decline of society.

I’m not blaming everything on your leggings and sweatshirt, because sin is real and we live in a fallen world. But I am saying that when we collectively decided to stop caring about how we show up, it said more than just “I want to be comfortable.” Getting dressed and ready is not only about you—it’s a signal of respect for other people and for the places you go. Get up and put on a pair of jeans, even if you don’t want to.