"Enough"

I think we all struggle with feeling good "enough" sometimes. Don't you agree? We're not smart enough. We're not pretty enough. We're not fit enough. We're not THIN enough (oh, sorry, did I just point out the one I struggle with the most?). We're not generous enough (ok, we probably should struggle with this as Americans). We're not rich enough (we are, though, compared to most of the world). We're not cool enough. We haven't traveled enough (ok, fine, another one I struggle with). We're not cultured enough. We're not educated enough. We're not enough.

One of my all-time favorite bloggers/authors, Kate Elizabeth Conner, posted the message below to Facebook and it really resonated with me (https://www.facebook.com/KateElizabethConner do yourself a favor and "like" her. She's amazing in that she has three kids- one with a vision impairment-yet she sees the world with such a fresh perspective that I can relate to her without issue). *I did edit it from being aimed at women to being aimed at everyone.

Thinking this morning, as I write: Perhaps the reason "you're perfect just the way you are" isn't connecting/landing with girls/women us* is because it's not true, and we know it. It never makes us feel better because we know better. We know we are not perfect; we can't believe otherwise, no matter how enthusiastically anyone insists. We are tired, short-tempered, pimpled, anxious, selfish, envious, insecure, gossipy, frizzy-haired, prickly-legged creatures.

We aren't perfect; but we are enough.

We are enough to be loved radically, scandalously, by (an actually perfect) holy God. We are enough to be pursued, ransomed, redeemed, bought back, sacrificed for, rejoiced in, cleansed, purified, worked on and in and through. We are becoming perfect.

We are enough to matter eternally. We are doubly loved: enough to be created, then enough to be rescued. We are enough to God, who is concerned with the internal and eternal, and therefore enough in every way matters.

Platitudes don't heal hearts; truth does. You aren't perfect, and that's okay. You are enough. Right now, this freeze-frame. No tweaks, no change of clothes, no slapping on mascara or sucking in your belly or rubbing lotion over scaly parts. No groveling or confession or making amends required. You are enough to be loved, right now. You are enough. You are enough. You are enough.

Deep breath. You are enough. Peace.

One more thing: if Twitter, Pinterest (vomit. I refuse to use this website. I'm not creative. I know it. I don't need someone else to rub my face in it.), Facebook, Instagram, etc. makes you feel like less of a person/mom/wife/husband/whatever-role-fits-here STOP USING IT NOW! Get off of Facebook if it steals your joy. Get off of Pinterest if it makes you feel bad because your stuff looks like a kid made it. Be true to yourself. Find what helps you be the best you and spend your time with that. Don't purposely access a website that makes you feel lousy. That's just insane. Take control of how you treat yourself. Invest in REAL, IN PERSON relationships. Use the time that you used to spend on these websites and read a devotion. Use that time to meditate. Use that time to write a handwritten note to someone to let them know they're on your mind. Use that time to pray for people- everyone needs it. Use that time to make you a better you without comparing that you to others. You'll be glad that you did. I promise.