4.28.2013

dear sister,


I want to start off by saying how beautiful you are.  I know that I might have never even seen your face, but you are beautiful.  I know how difficult that can be to believe, especially in a world that tells you you need to be a size zero, and especially as a high school girl, but you truly are.  You are a beautiful creature made by a beautiful God.  “So God created you in His own image.” You reflect our Lord!  When you look in the mirror, you glimpse Jesus!  When you fully grasp what it means to bear God’s image, you will be struck with the grandeur of your possibilities and potential.  Because of our likeness of God and Christ’s death, you can be whoever you want.  Life is full of endless possibilities!  Not only are you beautiful because you are made in the image of God, but also because of your heart and spirit.  “You are fearfully and wonderfully made.”  You are so compassionate and loving.  Sister, you were created by the hands of God!  You were molded by the very hands that molded the earth!  That alone is beautiful!  I hope when you look in the mirror, you will see that.  I pray that you don’t need a man to recognize how truly beautiful you are. 

I also want you to understand that life doesn’t get easier, but you will start to understand who’s opinion really matters.  High school girls are mean, college girls are mean, girls in general tend to be mean.  But if you look hard enough, you will see that not all girls are.  You will find friendships like that of David and Jonathan or Naomi and Ruth.  And when you find those, never let them slip through your fingers. Sister, know that if your friends do leave you and turn their backs on you, I will always be here for you.  Also know that you will always have a friend in Christ and that is a wonderful thing, because no matter how many times you turn your back on Him, He will never leave you.  In fact, He loves you so much that He was willing to die for you. “Greater love has no one like this, that He lay down His life for His friends.”  I know you know this and you’ve heard it over and over again, but just stop and let it sink in.  He died because He loves you.  Can you imagine dying for someone that has turned their back on you?  What an incredible God we are privileged to serve!  

Sister, on those hard days, please remember how temporary this all is.  “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”  “Remember how fleeting your life is.”  “Your days are like a fleeting shadow.”  What happens in high school will be forgotten.  What happens in college will be forgotten.  You will forget your 20s, your 30s, your 40s.  Darling, none of the trials of those years will matter, because they are but a passing second compared to eternity.  And then we will spend our days at the feet of Jesus!  “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we will fly away.”  The trials and troubles you face will soon be gone.  Imagine how amazing and awesome it will be when you see the face of God!  You will be a bride that finally gets to see her groom.  All of the “wedding jitters” will be gone and you will be in the arms of God!  The wedding feast will be incredible and then you will be filled with so much joy that you can’t help but dance!  What a beautiful thing it will be!  “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.”  “For the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure.”  It will be the biggest and most beautiful wedding ever.  There will not be a dry eye in the house and people will be talking about it for centuries.  Literally.  The amount of joy you will feel on that day will cover all of the pain that you feel right now. 

So, sister, when the world knocks you on your knees, remember that one day, you will be able to kneel before your King.  When the world draws tears from your eyes, remember that soon, the hands that had nails driven through them, will wipe your tears away. When you feel utterly alone, darling remember that the arms that hold the world will soon hold you.  And when you feel ugly, thrown away, and rejected, remember that one day soon, you will be clothed in white walking down the aisle to wed your beloved God. 

All my Love, 
Your Sister

4.16.2013

you are more beautiful than you think.

I have always loved Dove's Real Beauty Campaign.  I think that it is an incredible thing that Dove is doing.  They are looking past the makeup and digital editing and showing people what real beauty is and how ever person is beautiful.  Here is another video that they recently made.