Let. Peace. Come.

There is so much written about loving ourselves and forgiving ourselves.  Don’t we all cringe now and then when we think of something we did or said, and how it affected another, even if it was years and years ago, and how we can’t take it back, and we can’t EVER forgive ourselves, and so we must be terrible people, no, in fact, we are terrible people, I am a terrible person.  Why would I say that or do that?  What must people think of me?  They must hate me. And on and on and on and on.

We are our own enemies, how often have we heard this said?  It’s true enough, our actions do influence how we will be treated.  But the act of seeking forgiveness is the balm to all that has come before and has the power to change our future.  Some people believe that  God does not want us to ever be free of the chains of our own actions, that like an iron ball, we must drag them with us for the rest of our lives — bearing the pain of our actions forever.

That’s not from my God.  My God says, I would have died on this cross for you if you were the only inhabitant of this earth.  Only one Person lived a perfect life, no one else is expected to do that.  So, why do we hold such high expectations of ourselves?

You are loved, you are worthy, you are beautiful, you are scarred, you are imperfect, you hurt, you love, you cry, you are in pain, you are angry, you are happy, you are peaceful, you are afraid.  You are perfectly normal.  Forgive yourself when you fall short of your lofty expectations for yourself, and believe that God has this.

Today, I remind myself.  God has this. Let peace come.