Unwritten

7-20-1970

This is the day that my mom, Tracy Jo Futato Olson, was born.

A couple of days ago was her birthday. This post is in honor and in memory of her, and it is completely inspired by the legacy that she left…

I woke up on July 20^th, like any other day, besides the fact that Mama was just a little bit more on my mind. I had a smile on my face getting ready, she would have been 46.

I had to work that day, and when I walked into the kitchen after clocking in, the one song that Mama and I used to jam to in the old maroon Suburban on the XM radio was playing, and it made me smile:)

“Staring at the blank page before you, open up the dirty window, let the sun illuminate the words that you cannot find. Reaching for something in the distance, so close you can almost taste it, release your inhibitions. Feel the rain on your skin, no one else can feel it for you, only you can let it in. No one else. No one else. Can speak the words on your lips. Treat yourself with words unspoken, live your life with arms wide open. Today is, where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten…”

No one did this better than her. Cancer or no cancer, Mama always stared at the blank page before her with an open mind and a joyful heart. Joy that only comes from having hope in the Lord. Mama always had the words to say, and she was always striving to become a better version of herself, whether it be a better mother (which was impossible), a better wife, a better sister, a better daughter, or a stronger Christian. She set goals. She met goals. She was strong, stronger than anyone I’ve met to this day. No one could face the obstacles that she did with so much grace, so much positivity. Nothing held her back. In my young eyes, she was invincible. Even to the last day, Mama was a fighter. Being in our family’s position, you had to take things one day at a time. She did. She took everyday with arms wide open. She lived everyday to the fullest, no matter the circumstance. Sure, there were bad days, but she always knew God was still writing her story for a purpose. She knew that everything was happening for a reason, so she was confident in her Creator.

Isn’t that beautiful. Our stories are still being written. Day by day we get up, and it seems like we’re just “going through the motions,” but we aren’t. Each day that we wake up is for a reason. There’s something to be done. Every day that we wake up, there is a purpose. There is a purpose for your life. No matter how you feel, whether you think you are worthless or ineffective, God has a different plan for you. He holds your value. He holds your future. All we need to do is surrender to Him and His will for your life. It can be scary giving up all control. It’s something we must do daily…give ourselves up daily, but it is worth it. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it.

I know for a fact looking back, that my mom’s life was not the easiest. I know some days it was a struggle to put on a smile or to call me on the phone and be filled with so much joy, but it was worth it. She knew it was worth it. She knew that God had greater plans for her life than she could ever imagine.

And same for us.

God has greater plans for us, if we just surrender and obey. He is the author of our stories. What is unwritten to us, is written by Him.