don't wait for someone to come along
and think that you can only love fully
with just that person

no, you are full just as you are
you don't need another person to complete you
you are already made complete in Him
the One who bore you into being
who loves you more than any man could

so even though you're sad you don't have a man
to share kisses, handwritten letters, and midnight texts with
on valentine's day
don't be
why do you look for love in another person
when you are already so loved

love fully, darling
love without limits
love the stranger on the bus
love the person you just met at your friend's birthday party
love yourself
love your enemy
because life is too short to not love others

there will always be someone who is prettier than you, smarter than you, but no one can ever be you
be you
be yourself
stop comparing yourself to others
because you are unique
you are special
you are one of a kind
be who God created you to be

you don't have to prove yourself to anyone
God accepts you fully just as you are
why do you seek approval from others
when He has already accepted you

sonder.
the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

this is one of my favorite words, because it really opens your eyes in the realization that every single person you walk by really does have their own world they're living in.
each person carrying intimate moments, memories, songs, hurts, struggles, secrets, pains, and beliefs about themselves and the world they live in.
but what if we chose to extend a loving hand to people. in treating them with kindness, respect, dignity, and forgiveness. what a beautiful world we would live in.

it pains me to know that i won't get to see the people i care about
that they will eventually be far from me
maybe that's why i tend to push people away
thinking what's the point of being so close to someone
when eventually we'll be apart anyway

but God has been teaching me to love others wholeheartedly
to see each person as someone who He died on the cross for
to see as He sees
to hear as He hears
and to love like He loves

i don't know if i'll be gone tomorrow
tomorrow is not guaranteed
therefore i will love relentlessly
forgive others as God has forgiven me
and to live knowing my purpose and desire is to make His name known and not my own

when i was younger, i used to admire people who were intelligent.
now that i'm older, i admire people who are kind.
there's the saying that no matter how educated, rich, talented, cool, or "smart" you are, it all comes down to how you treat others.
and it's true.
choose kindness, because a small act of kindness goes a long way.