mused with mary

i love you

you mean everything to me

i would do anything for you

you are my world

you are so valuable to me

i adore you

i will do anything to make you happy

i can’t stop thinking about you.

Yesterday was the day of love. The day of I love you‘s and hearts and pink and red and flowers and gifts and over priced meals and sappy, romance movies and sadness and happiness. Maybe Valentine’s day for you was a highly anticipated day. You received flowers, thoughtful words, or a gift. Maybe you went out for dinner or cooked dinner or baked delectable cupcakes (like me…). Or maybe you spent yours alone. Or with friends, family, or your loved ones. Whatever you did yesterday, you should have felt loved. Not because of the day of the year it was. Or the fact that it was Valentine’s Day.

Every. Single. Day. You should feel loved.

There are two types of love that have been heavy on my heart to write about.

The first is self love.

The second is God’s love.

I spent Valentine’s Day alone this year (alone as in not in a relationship, I spent it physically with my sister and family). I think being alone is a wonderful thing. Being able to do what you want and love the things you love without interfering opinions is a wonderful thing. As Valentine’s Day approached though, I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about how nice it would be to receive my favorite flowers or be taken out to eat at my favorite restaurant. A girl cannot deny these things (Can I get an amen?). However, I can say that this Valentine’s Day was one of my favorite ones I have ever had. My explanation for this is that to be truly happy in any situation, you must be happy with yourself. You cannot rely on someone else to supply you with happiness. You cannot wait for someone else to guide you outside to the sunshine, you must be willing to step outside and absorb the rays yourself. Love yourself. Love your worst qualities and your idiosyncrasies. Love the little flaws in your body and the little differences in your personality. Love the things you do and the words you say. It is my firm belief that if you love yourself, no matter what problems you have, others will love you. They will love you for being real. They love will love you for being authentic. And even more important than others loving you, you will love yourself. You don’t need a man, or a woman, or a girl, or a boy, or anyone to approve of you. You just need to accept yourself and do things you love! Be the person that you are, don’t try to be someone else. A guy will fall in love with the freckles on your face or your awkward laugh or your favorite band or your passion for others or your ability to cook. He will fall in love with all of those little puzzle pieces that create the unbelievable person you really are. Be satisfied with who you are. Never let someone else alter your opinion of yourself. You are valuable. You are, in fact, wonderfully and fearfully made. Believe it, know it, act like it.

Spend everyday loving yourself. Not in an arrogant, puffed up way. Love yourself in a way the exudes confidence and self appreciation.

The other day I had a revelation (do these seem to happen often or is it just me?). I was watching a Christian video, spending my life away on youtube, listening to music and testimonies and other fun things. In the video it was talking about different ways to reach out to others in a way that is loving, and the simple phrase, “God is in love with you.” changed the game for me. I had always known that I loved God and I wanted to please Him and make Him happy in every way I could. But to hear that God is in love with me really just struck something deep within my soul. There are many, many times I feel inadequate when I think about all of the things God gives to me (newsflash: the fact that you are able to read this should let you know God is giving to you, too). How am I, a microscopic part of the universe, supposed to payback to God, the one who created me, the love He gives to me? I could love God with every ounce of my teenage body and still never amount to what He is worth. But even though I am so completely and utterly in love with God, even greater – He is in love with me. That is enough for me. No other soul on this planet could love me and I would be satisfied since I know He loves me.

It’s hard for me to relay to you guys the message I feel within my heart.

I guess I am just trying to say, no matter what you are going through or if you feel like nobody loves you, or if your boyfriend doesn’t want to be your boyfriend anymore, or if your children seem like they don’t love you anymore, or if you don’t even love yourself or your life anymore, please know that God loves you. He loves you enough to forgive you for every evil thing you’ve done. He loves you enough to bless you ten times more than you deserve. He loves you enough to save your soul. He loves you enough to give you loved ones. He loves you. That should humble you and make you feel petty for those little things you fret over. When you feel small, sad, belittled, unworthy, or inadequate, remember that a graceful God is waiting patiently for you to return to Him. He will fill your void; He will calm your soul.

Up above I listed some phrases, I ask that you go back and read them.

Most of these things, you have probably said to your husband, boyfriend, wife, girlfriend, mom, dad, best friend, daughter, son, friend, or loved one. If you are anything like me, your teenage self has repeated them countless of times, usually empty of meaning and littered with hesitancy. Maybe you’ve said them with confidence and truth to your significant other. Now, I want you to read them again. But say them to yourself. If we loved ourselves as much as we love others, as passionately as we love others, we would be so much happier. Self love is critical in a world that glamorizes self hate. Some of these phrases are more applicable than others, so, say these to yourself daily:

you are so valuable to me.

i admire you.

i love you.

you are worthy.

i am loved by others.

The next set of words are double sided. Read them first as you to God.

Then read them as God to you.

i love you

you mean everything to me

i would do anything for you

you are my world

you are so valuable to me

i adore you

i will do anything to make you happy

i can’t stop thinking about you.

A day after the “Day of Love” should still be a day of love. Show love to others, show love to yourself, and show love to God. Love and be loved. And don’t forget….

I LOVE YOU ALL! 🙂