is silence golden?

Are you ever in a group of people and keep quiet because you think differently than everyone else? Do you keep quiet because you want them to like you, or because you do not want to offend them? If I am being absolutely honest, 99% of the time, it is because I do not want them to view me as different and have a reason to dislike me. Of course, then I wonder if there are others who share my viewpoint, but have also kept quiet for the same reason.
At what age does it no longer matter what people think? Is that a character trait that I will always have? Or does it come from being teased and left out as a child, and having no idea why they didn't like me?
I find myself doing this even with people I will never see again, or with people who do not matter to me. Then again, I have always tried to avoid conflict (except with my siblings!), so maybe that is what I am doing. But I guess even that goes back to wanting people to like me. One thing brought up in Sunday School this morning was about God asking, "Am I not enough?"
So, how do I change my focus from what others think to "what does God think"?
I do pray that someday I will be able to say, YES, GOD, YOU ARE ENOUGH!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Yes, today is my birthday. I had a wonderful start to the day with a phone call from a friend who lives too far away. It was so sweet of her to take the time to call me with birthday wishes.
I will let you know more about my day when I post tomorrow.

Prayer Request for a soldier

If you have a list of soldiers you pray for, please add our friend Jordan to it. He is a wonderful, Christian, young man the same age as our 19 year-old daughter. He just arrived in Afghanistan and begins his duties there this week. Please pray especially for his safety, but also that he will find Christian friends for support and that God will comfort him as he adjusts to being so far away from his family. It is a privilege for us to know a young man with morals and convictions, who loves God and is willing to serve his country.