“We desire to possess a beauty that is worth pursuing, worth fighting for, a beauty that is core to who we truly are. We want beauty that can be seen; beauty that can be felt; beauty that affects others; a beauty all our own to unveil.” Captivating, John and Stasi Eldredge
I have this odd love for strangers. I wish I could explain it well. I don't necessarily like to talk to them, or let them know that I love them. I just love them from afar. I pray for them, sometimes really specifically.
And today, I feel like I'm supposed to write to one of them. I don't know her name. I don't know how old she is, though I would guess maybe seventeen or eighteen. I don't know who she is.
... and she will most likely never read this.
And I'm okay with that. There's just some things she needs to hear. and maybe I need to hear them, too.
Sweet girl,
I don't know if you meant to weep that loudly or not. I'm not sure if the sobs racking your body were completely unexpected or if your soul just knew it was time to pull back the curtain on your pain- time to expose what the mirror has done. time to expose the lies it has so cunningly whispered into your ear. time to acknowledge that it has limited you and attempted to define you... yet it's done a really poor job.
I so connected with your feelings I was ready to barge in that dressing room at TJ Maxx and take your face into my hands like you were my own sister and give those lies inside your brain a piece of my mind. I wanted to. Bad.
Because I've been there. I'm still there sometimes. The stores, the mirrors, the numbers. Feelings of failure and inferiority. Lies.
The enemy had a field day with me.
But if I have anything to say about it, he won't get to you.
I just want to pass you a note and tell you that you're so lovely.
Oh my goodness, that hair. It's the most perfect shade of red. Honestly. There are women all over the country that spend oodles and oodles of money to get their locks colored the way that God chose to artfully hue yours.
Your gorgeous green eyes carry so much life. Whatever you are passionate about, whatever is giving you that spark, keep chasing it. It's worth it. Even through tears, I know you are strong. and powerful.
You are beautiful. I watched you try on so many things and just get discouraged. and it was breaking my heart. You know why? Because you couldn't see how stunning you looked in so many different colors. You were created to be this incredible canvas. Display His glory confidently, friend.
I don't even know if this is making sense to you. and I'm sure you're conjuring up a million and one rebuttals for me. But can I tell you a secret?
The enemy is lying to you in those dressing rooms. and he's messing with your image and your heart and your brain. Do you know why? Because he's really afraid.
He's afraid of what will happen if you step out in your beauty. He's afraid of what will become of his treachery if it becomes exposed by God's magnificent glory inside of you.
He knows that men and women who know who they are and who they belong to are powerful. unstoppable. untouchable.
I'm praying for you tonight, sweet stranger. I'm praying that you and I would take off those smocks of lies that we've been sporting for so long... and exchange them for the most breathtaking robes of strength and dignity.
You carry a beauty that is worth pursuing, worth fighting for; a beauty that is core to who you truly are. Your beauty is seen. Your beauty is felt. Your beauty affects others. and your beauty is all yours to unveil.
Claim that. Come out of that dressing room with confidence, precious girl. Offer your beauty to the world.
You are loved, stranger.
~Lyss
No comments:
Post a Comment