The first thing:
I think we (as women in general) are always under a lot of pressure. But specifically, the pressure to be "okay" all the time. And not just "okay" but perfect. And even, fabulous. As a Christian woman, I feel that pressure sometimes even triples. If you're a Christian, perhaps you feel it too.
Every woman that walks and breathes the air on this earth feels the pressure to be perfect. Physically, emotionally, mentally... you name it.
Through subliminal and not-so-subliminal messages that scream at us through all kinds of media all day every day, every woman is told we must be perfect to be loved. Physically, we must look perfect. Airbrushed images of unrealistic ideals are the rude examples that are forced onto us, our little girls, our culture and the men in our lives - of how we must look in order to be acceptable, to be beautiful.
To always be up, happy, peppy, and OK.
To be emotionally sound. To not cry or be depressed or sad.
As women, we sometimes feel like it's not OK to not be OK. Like somehow it's wrong or it's not Godly.Like we feel it's not OK to admit -
I'm depressed.I feel hopeless.I am hurt.I feel alone.I don't know where the Lord is in this.And even...I feel angry.
I wish we could just realize that it's OK to not be OK. That it's OK to admit - "Yes, I am a hot mess today. And maybe tomorrow too." And to really love each other through it. To realize that we (and our sisters and brothers around us) are all walking through heartaches others cannot see, and things others do not know. I often remind myself - I don't know what's going on behind closed doors in that person's life. I wish we would love first, instead of judge.
I wish we could walk up to each other and say, "Hey! How are you? And instead of just blurting out a fake,"Great thanks!" We could actually be OK with hearing and saying, "Honestly, today I am not OK." And be OK with that. I'm sick of the fake-ness all around me. The fake smiles and fake words.
Let's be real. We are real women. Real girls. And we need to start owning that. Even if it makes us different from the world, even if we feel silly or not enough, or ugly or flawed. Because real life is not airbrushed. And if we're honest about it, sometimes real life isn't pretty at all.
You are not a plastic Barbie doll. You are a real, flesh and blood woman. You are not too much. You are always enough. No matter what you do. No matter what you don't do. You are beautiful on the inside and the out, because God made you and He said it was good. Your worth does not lie in how you look. So forget about that acne, sagging skin, frizzy hair, bags under your eyes, or if you feel "fat." You are precious. You are worth more than gold. And your body does not determine that worth. EVER. Jesus calls you His. He is enough. You are very loved, And you are real. Be real. Be you. Don't be fake. And if you're not OK? You can tell me. Cause sometimes, I'm not OK either. And that's alright.
The second thing:
The saying "You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips" is most definitely true.
So many times people get caught up in the rules and religiousness of Christianity and forget how important the love part is. In Mark chapter 12, one of the teachers of the law asked Jesus what the most important commandment was. He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
According to Jesus Christ, the two most important rules revolve around love. The first, to love God with your entire being. The second, to love the people living on this earth with you.
Jesus didn't answer to never sin or to judge the people who do. Jesus knew that we would fail and that's why he died on the cross. Its not our place to judge the people around us for their sins, or to treat them in a way that's unchristlike. He calls us to LOVE THEM. Has there ever been a time when you judged, rudely called someone out, our gossiped about their sin... and it brought them to Christ? I'm just as guilty here as you are, because we ARE sinners. Just like those people we judge and ridicule. But that's not how God calls us to treat our neighbors. God calls us ultimately to love. Love as our lifestyle. Love genuinely and so deeply it may hurt sometimes. And if we do that, everything else will fall into place. THAT is how you bring someone to Christ.
The things I've learned these past 5 months:
I think we (as women in general) are always under a lot of pressure. But specifically, the pressure to be "okay" all the time. And not just "okay" but perfect. And even, fabulous. As a Christian woman, I feel that pressure sometimes even triples. If you're a Christian, perhaps you feel it too.
Every woman that walks and breathes the air on this earth feels the pressure to be perfect. Physically, emotionally, mentally... you name it.
Through subliminal and not-so-subliminal messages that scream at us through all kinds of media all day every day, every woman is told we must be perfect to be loved. Physically, we must look perfect. Airbrushed images of unrealistic ideals are the rude examples that are forced onto us, our little girls, our culture and the men in our lives - of how we must look in order to be acceptable, to be beautiful.
To always be up, happy, peppy, and OK.
To be emotionally sound. To not cry or be depressed or sad.
As women, we sometimes feel like it's not OK to not be OK. Like somehow it's wrong or it's not Godly.Like we feel it's not OK to admit -
I'm depressed.I feel hopeless.I am hurt.I feel alone.I don't know where the Lord is in this.And even...I feel angry.
I wish we could just realize that it's OK to not be OK. That it's OK to admit - "Yes, I am a hot mess today. And maybe tomorrow too." And to really love each other through it. To realize that we (and our sisters and brothers around us) are all walking through heartaches others cannot see, and things others do not know. I often remind myself - I don't know what's going on behind closed doors in that person's life. I wish we would love first, instead of judge.
I wish we could walk up to each other and say, "Hey! How are you? And instead of just blurting out a fake,"Great thanks!" We could actually be OK with hearing and saying, "Honestly, today I am not OK." And be OK with that. I'm sick of the fake-ness all around me. The fake smiles and fake words.
Let's be real. We are real women. Real girls. And we need to start owning that. Even if it makes us different from the world, even if we feel silly or not enough, or ugly or flawed. Because real life is not airbrushed. And if we're honest about it, sometimes real life isn't pretty at all.
You are not a plastic Barbie doll. You are a real, flesh and blood woman. You are not too much. You are always enough. No matter what you do. No matter what you don't do. You are beautiful on the inside and the out, because God made you and He said it was good. Your worth does not lie in how you look. So forget about that acne, sagging skin, frizzy hair, bags under your eyes, or if you feel "fat." You are precious. You are worth more than gold. And your body does not determine that worth. EVER. Jesus calls you His. He is enough. You are very loved, And you are real. Be real. Be you. Don't be fake. And if you're not OK? You can tell me. Cause sometimes, I'm not OK either. And that's alright.
The second thing:
The saying "You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips" is most definitely true.
So many times people get caught up in the rules and religiousness of Christianity and forget how important the love part is. In Mark chapter 12, one of the teachers of the law asked Jesus what the most important commandment was. He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
According to Jesus Christ, the two most important rules revolve around love. The first, to love God with your entire being. The second, to love the people living on this earth with you.
Jesus didn't answer to never sin or to judge the people who do. Jesus knew that we would fail and that's why he died on the cross. Its not our place to judge the people around us for their sins, or to treat them in a way that's unchristlike. He calls us to LOVE THEM. Has there ever been a time when you judged, rudely called someone out, our gossiped about their sin... and it brought them to Christ? I'm just as guilty here as you are, because we ARE sinners. Just like those people we judge and ridicule. But that's not how God calls us to treat our neighbors. God calls us ultimately to love. Love as our lifestyle. Love genuinely and so deeply it may hurt sometimes. And if we do that, everything else will fall into place. THAT is how you bring someone to Christ.
The things I've learned these past 5 months:
- You never know the sunny mountains you're gonna climb and dark valleys you will face until you face them.
- You will make mistakes, there are people who will hurt you, and things that will break your heart. I suppose, though, this is what will make you stronger.
- It's okay to cry. Cry it out. But don't dwell on any pain, because the Lord Jesus is going to take your pain and make it into something beautiful.
- Forgive the people who hurt you in the Lord's name, and don't blame it on him....it's them who hurt you (and the Lord too.)
- Hug your family and tell them you love them every chance you can.
- People tend to have intentions in their actions. Not always! Don't assume the worst of people! But be aware, don't let people take advantage of your heart.
- Don't make big decisions when you're sleep deprived, emotional, or heart broken. it's okay to take time to rest, heal, think.
- Even though you don't think you will ever move on from him, you will.
- Don't try to please everybody because you're afraid of losing them. You'll lose many of them anyway, and you'll wish you had stayed true to yourself.
- You're gonna make some big mistakes, fall flat on your face, and people you loved won't understand you. Run to Jesus.
- Don't take your sister for granted. Love her. She's your best friend.
- Take the risk.
- Pain never lasts as long as you think it will if you look for the light.
- Be there for your friends. show up. ask them how you can serve and help them. don't be so selfish.
- Sometimes, it's okay to say "no."
- Do your homework. All of it. On time. Stop messing around!
- Quit that starbucks addiction. Its overpriced and overrated.
- Don't rush things. You have time. You're just a baby. You're only 16.
