Wednesday, March 13, 2013

hey girl, stop it.


Hey girl. Yes, you. The one who looked in the mirror today and cried. The one who won't admit she's afraid of people. Of their thoughts. Their words. Their stares. 

The one who tries so hard to smile. The butterfly who can't see past her cocoon. The one who hides from cameras; who shuts her eyes when she walked past the magazine aisle.

The one who has read a dozen posts and e-mails and articles and books like this, yet is still stuck in that rut of insecurity. 

The girl who thinks that she's the only one who's got a tangled heart. 

Well, lady, you might have had this message hammered into you a million times over, or maybe this is the first time you've heard it. Either way, pretty girl, I'm talking to you on purpose. And I have two words to say: stop it. 

Stop. It. 

Halt. Pause. Breathe. Think. Cease to wallow on the ground--get up and shake the dust off.  

Do you know who you are? I mean, really? Do you know who you are? You aren't your own person to degrade and pity. You are Someone else's intricate, glorious, dazzling masterpiece. The face in the mirror that you bemoan on bad days isn't your's to slander. And can't you see? It distinctly and visibly echoes the beauty of the Most Beautiful One. Look:

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (Psalm 149:13)

Fearfully and wonderfully made. He says so.

So stop cursing yourself. 

And your tangled heart? Yes, I have one too, and so does she, the covergirl, and she, the Harvard graduate, and she, the president's wife, and she, the Olive Garden waitress.

Want to know something else?

Those messy, breakable, boy-crazy, scratched up, scarred, insecure, dented, painted over, wistful, selfish, flimsy paper hearts aren't our's to untangle.

So stop trying. 

Hey girl. Yes, you, lovely. The one sitting behind your screen biting your nails and still trapped in a world of uncertainty. You're beautiful. Have you heard it before? I'll wager you have. It's a message that's out there, constantly, on Facebook statuses, on Pinterest memes, in girlie pep talk books, and on the lips of your friends. But have you ever believed it? Have you ever sat back and realized who you are, what you are, and where you are? Have you ever contemplated your worth? The fact and reality of how blessed you are to have beauty--not your beauty, but His.

So stop pretending. Stop not believing. Stop cutting you and your beautiful, beautiful self down, because it's Jesus' beauty, too.

Hey girl. Dear one. Magnificent one. Beautiful one. Don't you hear His still, small voice? He isn't yelling, "STOP, YOU FOOL!," He's whispering, "Stop, beloved. Stop trying to exist on your own, and let me untangle your heart and wipe your tears."


p.s. (this post wasn't for you. it was for me. but thanks for eavesdropping.)


-photo copyright lucia m., 2013-

35 comments:

  1. lucia, this is just what i needed to hear. :) i'm 'that girl'. and i think every girl reading this is 'that girl'. we all look at ourselves, and think "i wish i looked like that person." or "i wish i didn't have this "defect"." you are so right.

    God made us each unique; beautiful; special; HIS masterpieces. and when we put ourselves down, we are actually degrading His work. something He created, and loves; something He sees as beautiful. :)

    thank you for this, girl. just what i needed to hear.

    ::hugs::
    x, m
    www.maid4him.blogspot.com

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  2. Oh my goodness Lucia, this post was exactly how I've been feeling-every single word. I truly could relate to what you wrote. It brought me to tears. Thank you for sharing this! :) It was so beautifully written- thank you so much!!!!

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  3. Goodness, this is so well and beautifully written...I can't get enough of your words, seriously Lucia!
    I think I was in this situation, but thankfully I've come out of it, mainly just remembering that I was made in Jesus' likeness, that's nothing to be ashamed of! :)
    xoxo

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  4. hey Lucia,

    just dropped by to thank you for fixing my blog. I know it was probably over a year ago, and I said thanks then, but I can always say it again! :) I really like it.

    very nice post.. and funny I am also biting my nails on this side of the screen!

    thanks again

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  5. Man oh man, this is lovely. (THAT PICTURE.. STUNNING)

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  6. Lucia, this was beautiful! It was exactly what I needed to hear after a very trying week of doubting. Thanks so much!

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  7. Thank you for this wonderful post...I need to remind myself everyday that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. In God's image. : )
    Tane xxx

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  8. i really needed this. thank-you!

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  9. do you know how much i needed this today? really.

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  10. Just the words I needed...thanks, Lucia ;)

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  11. hmm, thank you lucia..... just what i needed to hear. and that last line.... :) but really, no it was for me to. xoxo

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  12. Lucia, I am so proud of you. I love the way the Lord finds expression of His life and love and strength through you, in your words and in your spirit, to me and to many other people. I am blessed to be your dad!

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  13. Thanks Lucia. I needed this post as much as if not more than you did. I appreciate that you shared it. :)

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  14. "Hey girl. Yes, you, lovely. The one sitting behind your screen biting your nails and still trapped in a world of uncertainty." I was biting my nails right when I read that...whoa. I really needed this. I am not saying that because everyone else is; I really mean it!

    You beautiful writer, you.

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  15. Thanks for letting me eavesdrop! I really enjoyed this post. :)

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  16. Beautifully written, Lucia! And lovely to get to see you again on Sunday!

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  17. Hey, girl. Yeah, you. This letter is wonderful.

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  18. As much as I love your photography-focused posts, I've missed these posts; ones straight from your heart. I needed to read this. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

    -Madi

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  19. Lucia.. your thoughts encourage and bless me, reminding me who I am in Christ. I am not my own, and when I look down up myself, I am stealing glory that should, that must, go to my Creator. Thank you for the beautiful reminder that I am indeed fearfully and wonderfully made.

    *hugs*
    ~Shannon~

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  21. Love this, absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing this! I am so glad you did!!!

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  22. tearing up. my heart is aching. this was written so beautifully and honestly and richly. i want to keep it close to my heart forever, on days when i feel like i'm not good enough, never will be good enough. on days when my heart is in shambles and i'm not sure if it will ever feel right again. this post just struck a soul chord. i have no doubts that i'll be coming back to read it again.

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  23. Seriously. Made me cry. I'm not even battling low self-esteem, but this was one of the most beautiful things I've ever read. Thank you!

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  24. thank you.
    there are times when i feel so fragile and broken and not good enough for myself or for anyone, and i wonder whether i ever will be. i don't even think of myself as depressed, but i have those moments and this is beautiful. we are loved by Christ, and treasured by him, and beautiful in his sight.
    all that to say... i needed to see this.
    actually, i think the world needs to see this.
    so thank you.

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  25. I cried. Because this is so completely, utterly me. I needed this.

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  26. So very beautifully written, Lucia. Thank you so much for sharing from your heart!

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  27. wow. your words are so powerful. and beautiful.
    mandy / through black and white.
    x

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  28. Hey girl. Dear one. Magnificent one. Beautiful one. Don't you hear His still, small voice? He isn't yelling, "STOP, YOU FOOL!," He's whispering, "Stop, beloved. Stop trying to exist on your own, and let me untangle your heart and wipe your tears."

    And that was where I started crying because this was so beautiful and I cannot and just *hugs*.

    xoxo, you go girl | annika

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  29. All of us can feel uncertain of ourselves one point or another. If you're feeling uncertain about yourself (which i don't know why you are; i look up to you), know that there are people in this world who care for you. Ingnore everything that's making you feel uncertain because you shouldn't be. Ignore people's stares and whispers; act like the opposite of uncertain; and let your "heart untangle."

    Love you always,
    ~Jenny

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  30. W.O.W what a beautiful post. It touched me to the heart. I just found your blog and am so happy that I did. Thank you, thank you for this honest and truthful post.

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  31. Lucia- your dad directed me to your blog- we met at the 2011 Faith & Culture Writers Conference- I love your voice- thank you for sharing. Wow, these words: "Hey girl. Yes, you, lovely. The one sitting behind your screen biting your nails and still trapped in a world of uncertainty. You're beautiful. Have you heard it before? I'll wager you have. It's a message that's out there, constantly, on Facebook statuses, on Pinterest memes, in girlie pep talk books, and on the lips of your friends. But have you ever believed it?" are such reminders for us all- blessings on your writing. God has good things in store.

    Cornelia Becker Seigneur

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Aw! Thanks so much for leaving a comment! They make me smile. :)

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