Chrystal Evans Hurst - Show Up for Your Life: What the girl youll be tomorrow wants you to know today

ZONDERVAN

Show Up for Your Life

Copyright 2018 by Chrystal Evans Hurst

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Epub Edition December 2018 9780310766933

Ebook ISBN 978-0-310-7669-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

ISBN 978-0-310766834

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Any internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Published in association with the literary agency of WordServe Literary Group, Ltd. www.wordserveliterary.com.

Interior design: Denise Froehlich

Printed in the United States of America

18 19 20 21 22 /LSC/ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Ebook Instructions

In this ebook edition, please use your devices note-taking function to record your thoughts wherever you see the bracketed instructions [Your Notes]. Use your devices highlighting function to record your response whenever you are asked to checkmark, circle, underline, or otherwise indicate your answer(s).

Information about External Hyperlinks in this ebook

Please note that endnotes in this ebook may contain hyperlinks to external websites as part of bibliographic citations. These hyperlinks have not been activated by the publisher, who cannot verify the accuracy of these links beyond the date of publication.

Dedication

For Alena

When I wonder what it looks like for a young woman to show up for her life...

I think of you.

Keep showing up.

Keep doing you.

Keep resting and believing in the beauty of whose you are.

and...

For Wynter

This book is for girls just like you.

Contents

I grew up different. You know those kids who rock a Winnie the Pooh onesie that doesnt really fit? They love it so much they just have to wear it? That was me. I was a homeschooled preachers kid with Tourette Syndrome and I was straight up different.

I spent most of my middle and high school years desperately awaiting that inevitable moment when everything about me would begin to blend in with everyone and everything. But eventually, I gave it up. I was tired of being different, but it was so much harder trying to fit in.

Thing is, there was no snap-of-a-finger magical unicorn that showed up to make things easier. So I chose to embrace my quirks, my unique experiences, and the intricacies of my story that I knew full well kept me from getting invited to every party or included in every group text. And I learned to love the girl that God createdquirks and all. I decided to show up for my life!

When I was a desperate and broken-hearted teenager with nothing but a guitar, a melody, and a few anxious prayers, I created a song and was nominated for my first GRAMMY Award. Fun fact: I was really confused... a GRAMMY? I call my moms mother my Granny. So my mom thought there was going to be an award show for grandmothers. (I didnt really grow up with a lot of television in our house... )

Anyway, I went to that award show beaming with joy. I wore cowboy boots that had a custom-bedazzled job and a hand-sewn Asian-inspired vest over a vintage dress. Designed by my mom, sewn by a dear friend who is also a seamstress. I got a few what are you wearing? stares and even a couple of blogs bashing my look, but Ill never forget what it felt like to walk around before and after the show, hearing so many artists and producers make comments about my outfit.

Ive never seen boots at the Grammys. I love it!

My wife wants to get a pair of shoes like yours. Where can I get some?

Whats your name? Ive never seen anyone dressed like you before.

For one of the first times in my life I was celebrated for being differentfor being ME. I continue to write songs about it, make videos about it, and sometimes I add a lil something to a book about it: Im different. But the beauty is that I was made to be different and I own those differences. So were youmade to be different. And when we choose to walk in what sets us apart, we show up for an incredible life that we were destined to live.

Chrystals words throughout this book are a continual reminder that we have to own our storyshow up for our life! We have to trust that Godthe Creator of our hearts beatwill give us the strength through the good, the bad, and the ugly. With Him, we can not only love where we are but be on our way to where we want to go. I showed up and I still strive to! It doesnt mean that my life is perfector even easybut it does mean that I live everyday confident in knowing that my story is worth telling and worth living.

Above all, I hope youll show up too!

Love, Jamie Grace

I d attended a Christian school through eighth grade, so ninth grade was the first year I attended public school. And all I wanted to do was fit in. In each class Id notice the girls who hurried in to get a front row seat and the ones who beelined for the last row. Id observe which ones might be new like me and which ones exchanged glances and notes like theyd known each other forever. I was searching for my tribe.

Within about a week Id started eating lunch with a group of girls who had grown up together. They all bought pizza and fries from the school cafeteria, and I brought apples, yogurt, and my moms homemade chocolate chip cookies. They all had boyfriends, and I was completely inexperienced in that department. Their language was pretty salty, and the worst words to ever pass my lips were shut up. Despite our differences, I wanted desperately to fit in.

One day I pulled out a chair at the end of the table, sat down, and unzipped my red lunch box. The other girls were going off about some teacher they didnt like. Jumping in like I was as streetwise as they were, I wanted them to know I thought that teacher was as horrible as they did.

I know, right? I agreed. Shes a #%&*-ing #@*$ *!!

The table fell silent as six pairs of eyes stared at me, shocked at the foul words that had just fallen out of my mouth. Honestly, I was as shocked as anyone.

Finally, one girl broke the silence.

Girl, dont even. Youre not doing it right. Just... dont.

I felt my face flush with warmth. I had been trying to be someone I wasnt, and Id been called out.

So, yeah, it was pretty embarrassing.

That hard lesson has had a lasting impact. Though she acted a little more disgusted than I thought she needed to, that girl was essentially saying: You do you. And believe me, I did. I was willing to work on and improve lots of things, but cursing wasnt going to be one of them!

It was better to be me, than try to be someone else. And it is better to be you than to try to be someone else.