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May 6, 2025 15 mins

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Holly celebrates her daughter's 18th birthday by sharing five powerful principles for living with intention, faith, and resilience that anyone can apply to their own life.

• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom - maturity is cultivated through wonder, humility and reverence
• Courage doesn't always roar - some of the bravest moments are quiet and unseen
• Build your life on the rock, not the applause - work with devotion whether there's recognition or not
• Let God define your identity - walk in confidence by knowing whose you are
• Leadership is a life of lifting others - true leaders serve, listen, and lead with grace

Take a moment to reflect on one area of your life that needs shifting, choose one resource mentioned to explore further, and honor someone in your life who's living well by speaking encouragement to them. Subscribe to Holly's Highlights podcast and join the email list at www.hollycurby.com for more inspiration.


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Visit www.hollycurby.com for more information and to sign up for the monthly Holly's Happenings e-newsletter. Holly's Highlights podcast and the opinions and ideas shared within it are for entertainment purposes only. The advice should be confirmed with a qualified professional.

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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi, friend, welcome to Holly's Highlights, a podcast
designed to encourage, inspireand equip you to intentionally
live your life full of purpose.
I'm your host, holly Kirby,motivational speaker, leadership
cultivator, marketingstrategist and personal
cheerleader.
Let's check out today'shighlights.
We recently celebrated thesecond anniversary of the

(00:23):
release of Facelift, embracingHope Through your Heartaches.
And what an incredible journeyit's been.
Since then, facelift has goneon to receive nine awards, been
highlighted by media outlets andreceived support from many,
including a special shout outfrom the CEO of Chick-fil-A Inc.
Dan Cathy, former Women ofFaith speaker Thelma Wells and
world traveler and authorGarrett Graveson.

(00:44):
But more than accolades, it'sthe stories that continue to
pour in Emails from readers whosay the book encouraged them,
gave them hope and reminded themthey're not alone.
That is what means the most.
Facelift also sparked somethinggreater the birth of this
podcast, holly's Highlights,which now ranks in the top 5% of
podcasts globally and inspireda monthly column in city

(01:06):
journals.
This platform has opened thedoor to speaking opportunities
all across the US, a chance toshare, connect and uplift others
in person.
It's been humbling, energizingand deeply rewarding.
Thank you to everyone whosupported, shared and been a
part of this journey.
To God be all glory greatthings he has done.
If you haven't yet, I inviteyou to read Facelift and

(01:27):
discover what's possible whenyou dare to embrace purpose and
hope.
Listen to Holly's Highlightspodcast wherever you get your
podcasts and subscribe to theemail list for monthly
encouragement, updates andinspiration.
Just visit wwwhollykirbycom.
That's H-O-L-L-Y-C-U-R-B-Ycom.

(01:47):
Hello, my friends, today'sepisode is a deeply personal one
, but I believe its message isfor anyone striving to live with
intention, faith and resilience.
Today I want to honor someonevery special to me, someone who
changed my life 18 years ago mydaughter, who today turned 18
years old.
Now she just became an adult inthe eyes of the world, but if

(02:10):
you've ever met her, you knowshe's been carrying the heart of
a wise, grounded woman forquite some time 18 years.
It seems like a blink, and yetit's been a lifetime of moments,
of memories, of miracles.
Watching her grow and doinglife with her has been one of
the greatest privileges of mylife.

(02:31):
But this isn't just acelebration of age.
This is a celebration of whoshe is.
She's mature than her years.
Where others see challenges,she sees opportunities to rise.
When life has tested her and ithas she has met each trial not
with fear but with faith.
She has faced hardships,moments that would shake most,

(02:53):
and yet she stood tall, notbecause she had all the answers
but because she trusted the onewho does.
She's been brave in ways that Ihope one day to match, with a
kind of quiet bravery too, thatdoesn't shout but stands firm.
She's courageous not becauseshe has no fear, but because she
moves forward in spite of it.

(03:15):
She is, without question, asolid young woman of the Lord,
not in name only, but inlifestyle and leadership, in
love.
Her faith isn't just somethingshe wears on Sundays.
It's woven into every decisionshe makes, every action, every
word she speaks.
Her walk with God is real andit shows Her spiritual maturity

(03:37):
is one of the greatest blessingsI've witnessed.
She listens for God's voice and, more importantly, she obeys it
.
And let me tell you, she workshard.
Her work ethic is ironclad, andnot for applause, not for
reward, but because excellencematters to her, integrity
matters to her.

(03:57):
She shows up early, she stayslate and she doesn't need a
stage to do her best.
She does it for the Lord and ina world chasing attention, she
chases excellence.
She does what's right, evenwhen it's hard, even when no
one's watching.
That's character, and she leadsnaturally, effortlessly.

(04:19):
She's a natural leader, not byforce or pushing others forward
and not by ego.
Leader not by force or pushingothers forward and not by ego,
but by example, as she liftsothers up.
People follow her, not becausethey have to, but because they
want to, because her life callsothers higher, her life speaks
and people just listen.

(04:39):
This is a tribute to her, butalso a letter to all of us,
because her life so far carrieslessons we all need.
This is a celebration, areflection and a challenge to
live with courage, faith andintegrity.
So today I want to draw fromher life five takeaways,
principles that can guide anyonewho wants to live with purpose.

(05:03):
Number one Proverbs 9.10 tellsus the fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom.
Wisdom begins with wonder.
Maturity isn't something thatjust happens.
It's cultivated through wonder,humility and reverence.
My daughter has never steeredaway from asking questions.

(05:23):
In fact, when she was threeyears old, she asked me to sit
beside her on her bed oneevening, as she had something to
ask me, and then she proceededto look quite intently up at me
and ask why are you in charge,three years old Now?
The flip side of thesequestions, though, is she's
brave enough to wait for realanswers?

(05:45):
Right, I've watched her stay uplate into the night studying
her Bible, pray when no oneasked her to, and seek counsel
when others her age would haverather pretend to know it.
All that's wisdom.
Make space for wandering, myfriends, ask the hard questions.
I'd encourage you to read onechapter of Proverbs this week,

(06:07):
just one a day.
I've known people who takeProverbs and read a chapter a
day for a month, as it does have31 chapters in it.
But whichever you choose, letit speak to you, let it grow you
, and if you want to dive deeperin wisdom, might I even suggest
Rick Warren's book the PurposeDriven Life, which is a 40-day
journey that deepens spiritualpurpose and clarity.

(06:27):
In spiritual purpose andclarity.
Number two, mary Ann Radmachersaid courage doesn't always roar
.
Sometimes courage is the quietvoice at the end of the day
saying I will try again tomorrow.
Courage is quiet and oftenunseen.

(06:48):
See, we often think of courageas loud, dramatic and bold, but
the bravest moments in mydaughter's life have been the
silent ones, the kind no oneelse sees.
There were seasons when she hadevery right to crumble, but
instead she stood, and she stoodtall and when she couldn't
stand, she knelt in prayer.
So I'd encourage you to askyourself where do I need to be

(07:12):
quietly courageous right now?
Maybe it's making a toughdecision, maybe it's forgiving
someone.
Maybe it's showing up when youjust feel empty.
A book I've enjoyed is 10Seconds of Insane Courage by
Garrett Graveson.
Perhaps it may bring someencouragement to you too in this
area.

(07:33):
Number three Colossians 3.23says whatever you do, work at it
with your heart as working forthe Lord, not for human masters.
Build your life on the rock,not the applause.
We live in a world addicted torecognition, but my daughter she
works with devotion, whetherthere's a stage or not.

(07:55):
A couple of years ago she wenton a missions trip to Guatemala
and upon coming back home,everyone commented what a
workhorse she was, that sheeasily ran laps around the men
of the group, even with herheavy lifting and everything
that had to be done.
She never complained and hadsuch a positive attitude.
In the midst of it all, she wasentrusted with even keys to the

(08:17):
store where she worked when shewas 15 years old.
I've seen my daughter finishtasks long after others quit and
serve with joy when no onethanked her.
This girl truly does all forthe glory of God, not for the
applause of man.
Well, we too can reflect on herexample and, examining our
motives this week, do somethingexcellent, something unnoticed,

(08:41):
and dedicate it to God.
Let your private life be theproof of your character, not for
applause, but simply as part ofyour integrity, your character
and from your heart.
I think the greatest resourcefor this one is simply put the
Bible.
Until we come to have apersonal relationship with the
Lord, I'm not sure we fullyunderstand doing everything for

(09:04):
the Lord instead of for man.
Although there are manyresources I'm sure you can turn
to for servant leadership, thereare a few others that you can
look at here on Holly'sHighlights, other episodes or
even books like Leaders Eat Lastby Simon Sinek and the World's
Most Powerful LeadershipPrinciple by James C Hunter.

(09:25):
Number four Song of Solomon 4-7says you are altogether
beautiful, my darling.
There is no flaw in you.
Song of Solomon 4-7 says LetGod define your identity.
My daughter walks in confidence, not because she believes she's
perfect, but because she knowswhose she is.
There was a time when I worriedthe world would try to define

(09:47):
her worth.
I'm pretty sure it was from themoment she was in my womb.
I have prayed over her everynight.
She went to bed that she wouldbe a solid woman of the Lord, a
woman after God's own heart, andthat she would live confidently
in whose she is.
I tell you this girl has rootedherself in scripture, in truth,
and it shows I am inspired byher.

(10:10):
Where are you getting yourworth from?
Take 10 minutes this week towrite down every identity label
you've carried and then lay thembefore God.
Remember you were created inhis image.
He loves you.
He values you just as you are.
Rachel Hollis is known forencouraging in this area with

(10:33):
her book Girl Wash your Face,and I like Elizabeth George's
book A Woman After God's OwnHeart, now number five.
John C Maxwell said a leader isone who knows the way, goes the
way and shows the way.
Leadership is a life of liftingothers.

(10:57):
When she was younger, I'd lookout the window to see her
standing on a cooler, givinginstructions to all of her
neighborhood friends who sat onthe grass staring up at her,
captivated by her every word.
Her life has been filled withbeing the leader in school on
her sports teams.
It just comes natural to her.

(11:17):
She is a servant leader though,a listener, a builder, a true
leader.
Watching her mentor young girlsand lead with grace and
navigate conflict with kindnesshas taught me how to lead better
.
So I'd encourage you to askyourself who's watching me live?
How can I lift someone elsethis week?

(11:40):
Not with advice, but withpresence.
If you want to go deeper here,lead Like it Matters by Craig
Groeschel is a great option.
He actually does a lot ofthings on leadership which would
be really good to look into,but for anyone who feels called
to influence others with faith,humility and grit, he's a great

(12:01):
resource to have.
Wisdom, courage, grounded,confident, a leader yes, all
five of those fit my baby girlquite well and set examples for
us, young and old.
Now to my daughter, thank you.
Thank you for reminding me whatfaith looks like in motion, for

(12:25):
showing me what's possible whengrace and grit walk hand in
hand, for being my best friendand allowing me to be yours for
so many years and for being,every single day, the woman God
created you to be and to you,listener.
If you're listening today andsaw yourself in such
descriptions, might I encourageyou to keep going?

(12:48):
And if you didn't but you wantto start today, you were made
for this, made to grow deeper,to live braver, to lead humbler
and to love harder.
I'd encourage us to take awaythree things today.
Number one reflect what's onearea in your life that needs a

(13:08):
shift From fear to faith, orfrom noise to purpose.
Number two act.
Choose one of today's resourcesand then commit to it this week
.
Commit to it this week.
And number three honor.

(13:28):
Take a moment to encouragesomeone in your life who's
living well.
Speak life into them.
It truly could changeeverything.
Of course, I welcome you tolisten to other related episodes
here on Holly's Highlightspodcast, from why we celebrate
our birthdays in season three,how to be a leader others follow
in season one and everything inbetween leaving our legacy,
developing a personal missionstatement, and so much more.

(13:51):
Simply scroll through the over125 episodes to find episodes
that pique your interest.
If you have a suggestion for anepisode to cover, feel free to
reach out to me at hello athollykirbycom, or just simply go
on to Facebook or Instagram andsend me a message there, or you
can even start at number one inthe podcast series and continue

(14:11):
on Either way.
Thanks for joining me today anduntil next time.
Happy birthday, gator Girl, Ilove you with all of my heart.
You truly are my heart's desireand I am so proud of you.
Thank you for joining me onthis journey of life.
I hope that today's highlighthas been encouraging, inspiring

(14:34):
and equipping so you can go outand live your life full of
purpose.
I'd be honored if you'd take amoment to leave a review or,
better yet, subscribe.
We can also stay in touch byjoining my email list at
hollykirbycom, that's H-O-L-L-Y,c-u-r-b-y dot com.
Until next time, make it agreat day for a great day.
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