Comparison is the thief of all Joy.

I feel like I have had a lot going on the past week or so, and a lot has crossed my mind that I would want to blog about. I have been journaling a little here and there, but really I have had SO many thoughts going around in my head, and honestly I can't really decide which topic to blog about. So here it goes. This one might be a little deep, kiiiiinda/maybe/sorta, but hey, I think it maybe could speak to a lot of the girls.. but guys feel free to read.

I was with a friend last night, a very very dear friend, one of my best friends actually, and we were laying in bed talking, as we always do, and 10 minutes turns into 2 hours.. of course. Let me just say that this was one of the most eye opening conversations I have had in a while, and I have had a lot recently, with MANY people. It was almost like both of us were discovering something miraculous together in that short amount of time. We have laid in that same place hundreds of times, I have grown up spending the night there, in that very bed, on the exact same side .. [ I love that ], but this time was different.

I was telling her that God was starting to give me eyes for the beauty of my friends around me. People that I have grown up with, done life with, hurt with, cried with, laughed, loved, shared, depended on. These are girls that I really and truly love, and i am starting to see new things about them that I have never noticed before. I have noticed their love for others, little things they do that are so unique to them, certain talents they have, funny little quirks that are only theirs. Certain laughs for certain moods, their strengths, their weaknesses, their own personal style, or handwriting. The books they read, things or little 'nothings' that they love. :) I could go on and on. Seriously, I have the most unique and absolutely beautiful friends, and there is NO ONE LIKE THEM, in the whole world.
Isn't that crazy? There is not one other person that is the same as 'her.' No one else on earth can see the world like 'she' can, no one else can love me the way that 'she' does, no one else but her can pray, worship,love,comfort like 'she' can. Isn't that neat? God put each and everyone of us on this earth JUST as we are. These Women of God that I am referring to are a few among MANY.
As we were laying in bed we discovered that girls struggle tremendously with comparing themselves to others, and constantly trying to measure up. God has revealed this to us at an early age, and I think there is a reason. I don't want to be one among the many that put myself through that, I don't want to live under the pressure of measuring up, or thinking that I am not enough, or comparing myself to EVERY girl in the circle.
Enough is Enough.
I have come to realize, that it is just a cycle, we sit and think that we are the only ones, and we look and say, wow She has it all, or how could she EVER be insecure? The truth is, we ALL have insecurities, I am realizing that my friends who I think are absolutely, BEAUTIFUL in EVERY way, have the EXACT same insecurities as me, and have also battled with the same problems that I have. I never would have thought. Sometimes I think we tend to isolate ourselves and think we are the only one's feeling this way, but that is far from the truth. I have also realized that when I am not allowing God to love me, and I can't see how HE views me, then I am not able to love others the way I would like to. [ That is the worst ]. So yes, Girls, you are a daughter of the KING, he made you and instantly fell in-love with your beauty and your heart. He looks at you and sees this beautiful little girl, dancing, free of worry, fear, doubt, and insecurities. His greatest desire is to take every fear of not measuring up, and completely carry it for you.
If you could understand the love he felt for you, you would never again fear other's thoughts about you.
Wouldn't it be so wonderful If we [girls] could allow God into that area of our life, and build for the next generation of women, that they have no idea what it means to compare themselves? I know that seems NEAR IMPOSSIBLE, but that is my Jesus, I believe with all that I am that he can do something that radical. I know I say this now, and it may seem as I am typing this, that I do not struggle, but I am FAR from that. I have my own places to allow God into that are far from being completely healed, but I do know, that there is no one else who sees the world like I do, or has the mind that God has given me, so I don't want to spend my time on this side of heaven wishing I could have what someone else has.
Women, and Men... YOU are fearfully and WONDERFULLY made, in his image, and we were intended to have life to the fullest. I know that he means this. :)
I did not want this to be some Self help blog, that empowers all women to stand up and "love themselves" it is more to say, STOP living in the pity that " you are not her, and you don't have what she has," and live in the place of knowing God created you for a GREATER purpose, and try to allow yourself to feel his love for you.
Remember, your eyes are the ONLY set of eyes that see the world the way you do.. so take advantage of it.

"Comparison is the thief of all Joy."

phew, I will get off of the box now. haha that was intense.