You're lovely, seriously ☀

30 March, 2015

✈ I had a fantastic vacation in Los Angeles with my family for the weekend. We stayed at the Loews Beach Hotel and Spa, a gorgeous resort overlooking the Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Ocean. I went for a long walk down to Venice Beach every morning, easily hitting my 10,000 FitBit steps and then some. I met my girlfriends for lunch and dinner, enjoying True Food Kitchen (a favorite restaurant of mine) three times throughout the stay. Their kale-aid, sweet potato hash, and SLT (aka seitan, lettuce, tomato) is to die for, for real. See below, yum.

I ventured down to Malibu and visited my alma-mater, Pepperdine University, and was suprised by the little changes I saw along the way. (No more Salsa Taco's or Thai Dishes or Malibu Hot Yoga - and a new Sunlife Organics juice bar!) But luckily, although things changed physically, seeing my friends and professors did not. They're the same fun-loving, God-fearing people I knew when I first met them.

One of my best friends, a cute girl I met my junior year, met me at my hotel for an afternoon of adventuring SM. But, the day snuck up on us and we spent the entire 4-hour span at my hotel's pool, sitting on cozy chairs in a quiet corner overlooking the waves crashing in the ocean. We enjoyed some fish tacos and chicken skewers, courtesy of mom and dad's room tab (wink, wink) and talked the afternoon away.

This particular friend of mine has been brimming with confidence from the first day I met her. She had, and still has, an incredibly strong faith, leading Bible studies, teaching the high-schoolers in church, and helping everyone she can. She has a similar background to me, as we both dabbled in the party scene and dated a small army of guys we knew weren't good for us, eventually becoming Christians and seeing things in a new light. She's been a huge encouragement for me, helping me navigate between what's good for me and what's not.

As I took my first bite of my Mahi Mahi and avocado taco, my friend said something strikingly peculiar. "I sometime's feel like no one could ever love me." With my eyes as big as a Phillipian tarsier (look it up, lol), I coudn't help but cough out, "Wait, what?" This gorgeous woman, of whom had been a tremendous role model in my life the last three years, had actually hinted at personal insecurity? She couldn't be serious.

If I were a man, this girl would be the prototype I was looking for. Beautiful, helpful, encouraging, prayerful, and servant-like. What's not to love? Digging deeper, she explained how she sometimes feels pangs of insecurity, unknowingly wondering if God really had someone for her.

Women, as I know from experience, are quick to judge and critique when looking in the mirror. My friend's remark got me to thinking - there have been many, many seasons when I've felt the exact same thing. "I feel ugly - how could anyone love someone who looks like me? I'm awkward - how could someone stand marrying me? I'm so clumsy, lazy, fat, etc, etc."

Although these negative (and sometimes daily) thoughts happen to us ALL, be it Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian or Lucy Hale, scripture tells us differently, helping us see just how worthy we really are.

"For I know the thoughts I have for you, says the Lord. Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

♡ Jeremiah 29:11

God created you, therefore He has a plan and a purpose for you. He see's you as the apple of His eye, and He wants nothing more but to give you the peaceful, joyful life only He can give. According to the world and its magazines and reality shows, we aren't skinny or pretty or disciplined enough, ever. On the contrary, according to the life handbook we've graciously been given by the world's creator, we are enough, we are beloved, and we are worthy.

Next time you feel a pang of insecurity, remember: You are created in the image of God, and God doesn't create junk. Those whom take His hand and walk down the path of His grace have nothing to fear, least of all thinking a man (or woman for you snoopy lads) won't someday love them. Meanwhile, forget about fad diets, obsessive calorie counting, or buying the latest Michael Kors watch. God is the ultimate matchmaker and will, in His timing, give you the right person who see's you as lovely, finding your heart drop-dead gorgeous. Because darlin', no matter how many time's you negatively judge yourself, you really are worth it. ☺