CROWN: (n) Any of various types of headgear worn by Monarch as a symbol of sovereignty.
The distinction that comes from great achievement.
As many of you know
becoming Miss Murray was
a dream that I had set in
It all started when I was interning in
the office of an elementary school.
One day Miss Murray came
to do an assembly for the 4th-6th grade girls.
I remember the beauty she possessed
the poise she carried
and the charisma that she radiated.
Her platform was about loving your body
and Self-Confidence!
She was talking about
eating disorders,
possessing confidence
and loving the skin you are in.
I remember her holding up these
shapes such as a triangle, a square,
a circle, a diamond, etc.
She announced that everyone
comes in different shapes
and sizes and no two
people are supposed to be
the EXACT same size!
She then sang a song to these
beautiful girls...a song she wrote
on her own I might add.
Watching her set an example to these gorgeous girls,
watching her teach values that would forever benefit their life,
watching her MAKE A DIFFERENCE
I was quickly inspired!
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I knew one day I wanted Miss Murray to be ME!!!
{That is Miss Murray 1998's crown}
My life had forever CHANGED!!
From that moment I put more effort
into becoming the girl
I wanted to be!
The girl that would one day
I thought
'become' Miss Murray!
I saw the example of this Miss Murray
and it inspired me!
I wanted the crown because
I felt I could make a difference
with it.
I felt children would want to listen
more to the girl who has the
crown on her head.
I felt as if I NEEDED some title to make
me an IMPORTANT person
in my community!
So for the next 8 years I worked on
constantly improving myself,
developing my talents,
volunteering in classrooms and teaching
them the importance of service
and involving myself in Murray City
in every way you could possibly fathom.
My journey did not end there...
I competed in the Miss Murray Pageant
4 times before I even placed!
In my 5th pageant I made 2nd runner up...
needless to say I was thrilled.
I then went to compete
ONE LAST TIME!
That 'last time' was actually
this past Saturday (September 17th)
The week before the pageant
I started deeply thinking of why
I wanted to be Miss Murray.
I NEEDED to figure out why
it was SO IMPORTANT to me!
The night of my pageant,
my best friend Elise aka my cousin
texted me and wrote:
"You're going to be great tonight.
You're beautiful, talented, caring, poised and incredible.
But most of all you're a beautiful daughter of God and he loves you.
Be confident in his love and you'll radiate more beauty tonight
than any crown could."
I felt INSPIRED and it was
from THAT moment I
realized, that sure a crown is
beautiful, it sparkles attention
and it allows you to do GREAT things!
But a crown is NOT where true beauty comes from
A crown is corruptible!
My dear friend Stacey
Miss Murray, 2010
is currently serving a mission
and she sent me this
scripture the week of the pageant.
1 Corinthians 9:25 "And every man
that striveth for the mastery is
temperate in all things. Now
they do it to obtain a corruptible crown;
but we an incorruptible."
I did not walk away with the
title nor did I place
but I believe it happened for
A REASON!!
I know now that I do NOT
need a crown of glory
to make a difference!
I have and will continue to make a difference
on MY OWN
without the creditability of a title,
without the world seeing me serve with only a crown!
I want to make a difference with my
invisible crown on my head!
I want this invisible crown to be worn
on my head proudly
as I strive through life
SHINING into my best self!!!
I am linking this post up with
The Shine Project
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