Dear Friend,
When my heart was heavy the other day, it was due to viewing myself as being lower class, and accepting myself as such. It's just the way I've always viewed myself. I've not viewed my family that way, just myself. You know, never good enough in any way. It came back to me over the thought of meeting an 'online' friend face-to-face. I figured they'd be disappointed in me somehow... Anyway, I took this to God the other day, along with other thoughts on being loved and accepted and such, and what came back to me was: Celebrate the ugly bits.
Wouldn't that be great! :D What if we didn't reject our 'ugly bits' or anyone else's so-called ugly bits, but celebrated them instead. Ok, you know I'm not talking about 'evil bits', just the bits that we often look away from in this cosmetic, and often shallow, world we live in.
If you look in the mirror, chances are you'll note something about yourself that you don't like. What if you looked in the mirror, saw that particular bit, and rather than rejecting it, you accepted it, and celebrated its worth and beauty simply because it is part of YOU!
Our 'bits and pieces' shouldn't denote our worth. I know in this shallow, cosmetic age, skin-deep beauty is celebrated above all else, but only the truly shallow souls of the world would consider a person worthy or unworthy because of their looks.
What spoke to me the most while I was putting this before God, and He was impressing things upon my heart is that love accepts and embraces who we are, ugly bits and all. Love celebrates who we are, no matter what.
Honestly, if someone is going to reject us because we're overweight, too old, not that 'pretty' to look at, or some other shallow reason, then love has nothing to do with their heart or the friendship they supposedly offer.
I've always been insecure. I've always hated my looks. I've always feared meeting people. I've always feared ridicule and rejection. It's a hard thing to step free of. The fear of rejection hits me so hard when someone I've met online wants to meet me or even talk to me on the phone - and even meeting someone face to face that I've never met online! I clam up. I closedown. I fear and tremble, believing rejection will come between me and this person who "loves" me online. I don't mean to judge them or their character, but that's probably what I'm doing. And I shouldn't... However, if that were to happen, if I were to be rejected because of my appearance not being good enough, or my bank balance not measuring up to their liking, or something equally as shallow, then, really, why am I worrying? Who needs a 'friend' like that, right?
However, I can't just walk away from that. I chose to love that person, and I don't want to reject them no matter how much they may reject me - even of their reaction cuts me to the bone. And it's the same with God. That's love. Love not only accepts the ugly bits, it accepts what it is given, and it gives in return even if it is openly rejected. I don't have to allow that person to have any influence in my life, but it's still up to me to overcome their ugly bits, and love them - just as God does with us.
God loves us with all His heart. He loves us when we're good, and He doesn't stop loving us when we fall short of the mark. He loves, accepts and celebrates the unique beauty that each of us possess, but He also accepts our ugly bits, too. He celebrates 'us' - no matter what. He loves us. He does not love as we do. He does not love because we please Him. He does not stop loving us because we fail to please Him. He just LOVES. And if I could get my eyes off my ugly bits, not only would I stop fearing rejection, but I'd be free to focus more on celebrating others no matter what.
Love does not measure our worth by our cosmetic beauty. Neither does it reject us when we are at our ugliest. Love loves no matter what... This is the nature of Love. This is the nature of God... This is the nature of Christ, and the nature we are to embrace.
I for one want to possess a heart that doesn't note a person's 'ugly bits', and I definitely don't want to possess a heart that values a person by such things! I want a heart like God's. I want to love as He does. I want to celebrate each and every individual for who they are, and if an 'ugly bit' is seen, then I don't want to label it as such; I want my heart to automatically accept and embrace whatever bit it is, and celebrate it for being part of a soul that truly does hold great worth... I want to accept and embrace something because of who it belongs to. I want to celebrate everyone for who they are, no matter what. Oh, to have God's heart, huh...?
"Father, please help me to love as You do... ugly bits and all..."
Be back soon... ;)
Donna
xoxoxox