Liv Stone’s Story
“Happiness blooms from within.” That’s Liv’s life motto, which is fitting for someone who radiates joy and has a love for others that is downright contagious.
(updated March 30, 2020) Born with a congenital limb difference, Liv has shorter arms with two fingers on each arm. Although life has presented a varieties of difficulties, Liv hasn’t let anything hold her back. And now she’s just won Gold at the ISA World Para Surfing Championships!
For extended periods of time Liv experienced chronic chest pain, along with other health issues. Yet in the midst of suffering, she is a reminder of our strength. Pushing through the pain, Liv played varsity soccer… as a freshman and received her first letter as an athlete! She also graces the ocean joyfully displaying her newfound love of surfing, which she picked up at my non-profit’s Beautifully Flawed Retreat in October 2017. And we are so proud to share that now, only 3 years later, after investing her time and energy into pursuing surfing, Liv just WON her division in the 2020 ISA World Para Surfing Championships!
While she is elated with this accomplishment, and finds so much joy in surfing, Liv’s life reflects that happiness is not based on our circumstances, it is rooted from within, and overflows throughout.
Liv’s life reflects that happiness is not based on our circumstances, it is rooted from within, and overflows throughout.
An inner happiness that comes from Christ can’t be taken away, taken a part, or taken back. It isn’t dependent on our performance, our appearance, or our intelligence. Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” God cares for the needs of all of His creation, from the birds, to the flowers, to you.
When I’m unstoppable, I recognize that happiness is not found in external circumstances, it blooms from within.
