We were all created after the image of God. Every single one of us has similarities to Him. However, we were not made to be all the same. If I look at a picture of my family I see different color hair, different eyes, different smiles, but not only do we not look the same, we don't all act the same. All of us have different plans. All of us have different trials and responsibilities. We are different.
I look in the mirror and I see me. I'm not like my sisters, when they were my age they were both married. I'm not like some of the women in my Ward, i'm not relief society president, and i'm not dating my "soon to be" something more. I'm not like my coworkers, I don't think I have it all. I'm not like some of my companions, who served in leadership their whole missions. I'm not like anyone. I look in the mirror and see me. For the past few months, when I looked in the mirror and saw me, I was ashamed. "what is my purpose", "what am I doing wrong", "do I even matter"? All questions that passed through my mind. I compared myself to other people and when I saw them doing something that looked better, or more important, I automatically assumed I was not doing what I needed to and therefore being punished or something. But this is not the case.
I was created to be me. I have flaws, I have weaknesses. I have imperfections. I look in the mirror and that is what I see. Traces of my past: Heart-break from past relationships, lack of trust from a broken family, fear of disappointing those I love, hurt from emotional terror I wrecked on myself, but most of all pain from the judgments of others and my self. The natural man wants us to look at these things in ourselves. We automatically look at the bad, and assume others do as well. We believe we are defined by it.
I had had enough. I hate hating me. So, today I looked in the mirror with fresh eyes. I saw me, and I saw the traces of my past. Courage, from following the spirit in past relationships. Strength, in those the relationships I have built and maintained. Faith, that I can only do my best. Love, of knowing I have a Father in Heaven who sent me here for a reason. And most of all gratitude for all the blessings I have in my life.
I have flaws, I have weaknesses, I have imperfections- but that is what makes me, me. It isn't what people say, or how they act to me that defines me, but how I choose to see it for myself. Do I see myself as just another human roaming the earth, or do I see myself for what I am: a Daughter of God.
So today I have a message for you my dear friends and family,
Do you see you for who you truly are? You are much for than what you think you are. You were created, and sent here for a reason. We all struggle with different things: depression, illness, addictions, laziness, procrastination, anxiety, and much more. But that is not what defines you. Those things you struggle with are there to make you better. They are there to be a building block, not a stumbling stone. As I picture all of you in my mind right now, all I see is Love. I know that you are where you need to be. I know that you are changing lives no matter what you think. I know that you are here for a reason, and I know that someone loves you. Today, look in the mirror, and see how the past has shaped you into a beautiful person
Today, look in the mirror, and recognize that you are nothing to be ashamed of, but a gift to those around you. Some of you will read this and think i'm crazy. Maybe you don't think my opinion matters. Maybe, you don't care. But I do. Because I know we are Children of God. And if He loves you, regardless of all the good and bad, so should you.
P.S. I love you too.
