Dear Younger Me,
Close your eyes; I want you to picture your life right now:
Close your eyes for a moment; let's take a deep dive into the depths of your current struggles. Feel the weight of the obstacles, acknowledge the pain it has caused, and envision where it might be heading. Is it stagnant, or is there a trajectory? Identify where it hurts the most – is it your heart, your pride, your soul, or your self-esteem? Now, with your eyes closed, imagine embracing this pain as if it were a dear friend in need.
Not to accept it and be done, but to recognize it, appreciate its presence, and say these words:
"I see you. I notice you. I may not entirely understand your purpose right now, but I know you hold value in my life. You are a lesson that I will embrace and learn from. Thank you for being here, for you are helping me just by existing."
'If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: '
- 1 John 1:6-10 (KJV)
Now, open your eyes. How did that feel? Did a person or a place come to mind? We recently had a candid conversation about facing life's challenges in a similar manner, and it wasn't easy, but it was necessary. Uncomfortable, yes, but looking at where I am now, I am genuinely grateful for taking that step.
Acknowledging and embracing your struggles is a crucial and often difficult step. It requires authenticity and vulnerability, exposing scars and wounds created by both your actions and the influences of others. Here are three lessons I've learned through this journey:
'Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.'
- Ephesians 4:31-32 (NKJV)
Taking a hard look at what you're going through when you're going through is a difficult step. You have to be authentic and vulnerable in ways that you're not comfortable with. You have to expose yourself and reveal the scars that the pain has created knowing full well that by doing so you will be releasing the pain and grip that the wounds have over you. Sometimes those scars are created by you, and some are the results of those you allowed to influence you. But if there is anything I've learned from the pain it is these three things:
1| Face what scares you the most
When confronted with a challenging situation, the fear associated with it can be overwhelming. Facing it head-on is an acknowledgment of its reality. By allowing yourself to look at what is hurting you, you provide an opportunity to recognize the emotions and effects of the problem.
2| Let’s Hug it Out
Embracing your battles is not about approval; it's about understanding that this is a battle you must navigate—whether through, around, or overcoming it. Much like a child's hug, which has a magical, therapeutic quality, embracing your struggles can relieve you of bitterness, anger, hatred, fear, and resentment tied to it.
3| I Forgive Me
Forgiving oneself can be challenging, but it's a vital step. While it takes two to tango, the blame game only creates monsters out of simple situations. Remove the word 'fault' from your vocabulary. Instead, acknowledge that healing doesn't come solely through others. Give it to God and learn to speak love to yourself. You deserve forgiveness when you mess up, just as God forgave you. We must learn to speak love to ourselves.
'Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” '
-Luke 7:47 (CSB)
I wanted to conclude with these quotes:
“I have learned, that the person I have to ask for forgiveness from the most is: myself. You must love yourself. You have to forgive yourself, everyday, whenever you remember a shortcoming, a flaw, you have to tell yourself "That's just fine." You have to forgive yourself so much, until you don't even see those things anymore. Because that's what love is like.”
― C. JoyBell C.
Silently repeat to yourself: I forgive myself for any ways in which I knowingly or unknowingly caused hurt or harm to any living being or creature. I forgive all who have ever hurt or harmed me. Everything between us is now cleared up.
Michael Beckwith
You forgive yourself for every failure because you are trying to do the right thing. God knows that, and you know it. Nobody else may know it.
Maya Angelou
Remember this: You are loved, both by those around you and by your Creator. You are more than the pain and hurt you face. You are a conqueror, and your journey through hurt is just the beginning. Together, let's navigate this thing called life.
Until next time…
—🌿Abigail
