To Future Me

Future me:

       You are beautiful. Stop comparing yourself to other girls, because comparison is a silly game. When you were formed in your mother's womb, God did not say to Himself, "I really hope she turns out like...." No, my darling. He formed you into a girl that is different from everyone else. He made you with the perfect amount of creativity and craftsmanship, and when you look in the mirror and cringe at what you see, He beams with pride at the beauty of His masterpiece. Every single time.
       Your restless wandering will not last forever. Don't fret when you struggle to find a place to rest your head; though you may feel alone sometimes, never allow that feeling to last, for God has never forsaken you. Boldly step into the unknown, and never let a small setback keep you from owning the day. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." {Joshua 1:9}
      Your past has no control over you. You are a new creation, no longer tied to the experiences that you once allowed to define you. You are stronger, braver, and better off. You are an overcomer, walking in the salvation and grace that set you free. The enemy will always try to use your past to bring you to a place of weakness and vulnerability. Love, when he does that, stand tall and say, "I am the redeemed daughter of the living, breathing, reigning God of the universe. I am victorious, and your words have no power over me."
      You deserve love. You've been stepped on, hurt, mistreated, broken, and forgotten. There's no denying that. But, my dear, you deserve so much more. You are a precious jewel, worth more than diamonds, and that will not go unnoticed. There are sad people out there that feel that hurting you will somehow mend their own broken hearts. Love them. Love them, and don't let their words affect your knowledge of the truth that you deserve & are capable of being loved. You deserve love in the purest, most sweetest form; the kind that forgives, and cherishes, and protects. You deserve the kind of love that sets things into motion; the kind that makes a difference in this world. You deserve it all.
      Love people. Love the people that love you, and love the people that hate you. Broken people deserve love, just as much as you do, and you are called to selflessly love them. Don't you dare decide someone else can love these people; YOU are called to. You may be the only form of Jesus some people witness, and that is an attribute the world sorely needs. Love. Love until it hurts, and then love some more.
      Love yourself. All your life, you have heard, "Love your neighbor as yourself." But darling, if you are not loving yourself, how can you even begin to love others?
      Forgive. Your cannot handle the burden of anger, for that is not how you were created. You were created in the image of God, who gives you more second chances than you can count. And, He doesn't just forgive: He puts it behind Him. Don't forgive and remember so that you can one day think about it and get angry all over again. Let it go. Forgiveness is one of the most beautiful forms of freedom that is offered to you.
      Pursue God. There is a not a second that goes by that you aren't passionately pursued by the Author of creation. When you are busy chasing after the things of this world, God is chasing after you. You are literally the most beautiful thing He has ever laid His eyes on, and you have captured His heart. "You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes." {Song of Solomon 4:9} The things of this world will perish, but, your God? His great and unrelenting love is forever. You have never experienced a love more exciting than this one. So, what are you waiting for? Stop being a bride that cheats on her First Love with things that cannot satisfy; be a bride that is captivated by her Groom. Want Him as much as He wants you.

With love,

Me

     

This Goes Out to the Ladies

Let me just start out with this:

You are not defined by the number on the scale.
You are not defined by your past.
You are not defined by others' lack of respect for you.
You are not defined by your grades in school.
You are not defined by how much or how little money you have.
You are not defined by the way men have abused you.

You are a stunning, intelligent, lovely, and valued masterpiece.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWi5iXnguTU)

My darlings, you are more precious than diamonds. And hear me when I say this:

 

You are NOT an object to be used.

 

I absolutely hate Victoria's Secret, because the company & their models portray the idea that women are objects for sex; that we are to be lusted after for our bodies rather than treasured for our hearts. Young girls watch these commercials and are under the impression that if they don't look like that, or wear articles of clothing with "sex appeal," then they aren't attractive. And I say that from experience; I used to think I needed to look like a Victoria's Secret model in order to meet society's standard of beauty.

 

Have you ever been used? Disrespected? Treated like your body is the only thing that's of worth? I've been there, and I am not at all surprised at this kind of behavior.

 

I have seen men watch commercials advertising lingerie and sex on nearly naked women, and have witnessed the way their eyes are glued to the screen. We live in a society that tells men that it is normal to lust after ladies, and treat them as the objects they are portrayed as. I have sat by peers in the past that were openly looking at pornography and discussing why or why not a certain woman was "hot or not." I have been in relationships where sex was a constant topic of interest to the male, and, when denied, he tried a more forceful approach. After being treated like nothing more than someone who was "supposed" to pleasure a man, I lost sight of my real worth.

 

Here's an important truth that I cannot stress enough:

 

You are not defined by how poorly you've been treated.

 

For too long, I believed I was nothing more than a girl that would only ever be wanted for her body, because that is how I was treated by guys. Each lustful glance or comment from a sex-driven male further reinforced to me that I was simply an object to be used. But, that's not who I am. I am so much more than that.

 

I am a person. I am worth more than diamonds. I am so treasured, an innocent man's life was sacrificed to give me freedom. I am a masterpiece, designed by the greatest of artists. My body is the temple of God, and my heart is His dwelling place. I am worthy of affection, the kind that innocently sweeps me off my feet. I am capable of doing something great in this life. I deserve to be loved and sought after by a man who is attracted to my heart. I am not an object for sex, but the bride of a Groom who pursues me in the most passionate of ways.

 

Now, go to the above paragraph and read it again, but this time, out loud.

 

There will always be people that do not treat us the way that we deserve to be treated. Don't you dare ever let their inability to understand your true worth define who you are. Raise the standards. Know your worth.

-Madison