A Different Mirror

How we see ourselves is usually different than how other people see us. That's one of the reasons why constructive criticism is so important, and why marriage is an incredible path to heaven: other people can affirm our strength and goodness when we need it, and also offer an outside perspective to what we could see in ourselves.

But where is the line?

I've probably mentioned before a thing or two about caring what people think about you. It's good to take into account, but keep in mind who is providing the feedback. Is it constructive or destructive? It is out of love for you and a genuine appreciation for your goodness? Or does it steam from a jealousy or woundedness in someone else? And then there's criticism of yourself.

"You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48

We are told to strive to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect because God, our loving and merciful Father in heaven with unquenchable love wants us to spend the rest of our earthy lives nitpicking at ourselves so we can someday hope to reach a level of perfection that we will never actually attain. FALSE. Let's consider humility. I've heard it described and defined different ways, but in my humble opinion, the simplest way to describe humility is seeing yourself exactly how the Lord sees you. You are beautiful, loved, and capable of great things. You are wounded, weak, flawed, and you try to handle way more by yourself than you should. Sometimes you let pride or fear get the best of you, but you know you can do better, and you know you can... but not by yourself.

One of the biggest (most arguably) and most detrimental ways that women (especially single women or women in crappy relationships) pick at themselves is their physical appearance. We question our attractiveness in our bodies and all of a sudden we question our worth. Simple affirmations go a long way and I have had enough crappy days to know that everyone could use one now and again. We receive by giving, and although we shouldn't give for the sake of receiving, we can, nay, we HAVE TO, and give of ourselves to be whole (just ask Jesus).

I realize that this is a little deep after my big break from screens and it is very late as I am writing this post, so I'll keep it short and wrap it up with yet another video. But if you want more, one of my most dearest friends in the world, Miss Jackie Heider (what up!), saw the same video (above) and wrote this ...she is an actual writer who writes for magazines and stuff. And she's good too. REAL good. Read it, you won't regret it.

Love, love, love.

"So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13