You are beautiful just the way you are

In the Bible we read that Christ looked up to children, loved them and commanded us to be like children. Today I learned for myself that children can give us the most beautiful lessons there are. Today I heard a young girl speak so beautifully and so honestly about the love of Christ, about how He accepts everyone, that she touched my heart forever.

She told us today in church how she has often been angry because of her disability, especially angry at her mother. How the bitter feelings have always weighed on her. But now she had recently felt that Christ loved her and told her that she was beautiful as she is, that she has enormous value as she is and that He loves her. How this feeling had given her a lot of strength to continue.

Wow. So strong, so beautiful, so pure. What a testimony to the love of Christ. What a lesson for all of us that everyone is important, that we are all beloved children of a Heavenly Father. To hear that from a child who has probably already experienced difficult moments - because there is nothing harder than a peer facing someone who deviates from what he/she considers normal - that through the love of Christ she has finally discovered her worth and her place, while we sometimes struggle with this because of things that are much easier to bear, is a humbling lesson.

I don't mean that humiliating negatively, but positively. A lesson that has taught me the necessary humility towards God, but also towards others. Lately things haven't been going well for me and I often think “oh, there are so many others who have so many more problems than me”. But from that lesson in humility, I now realize that it doesn't matter to Christ. I can also lean on Him and seek support for my problems. For Him, one problem is not worth more or less. It is enough for Him to know that there is a problem and that we need His help.

That we just have to ask for it. That we must be humble enough to simply say in prayer “I need You” and then help will be provided, no matter how serious or priority the world considers our problem. It is always important to Him; we are always important.

It is also a lesson that we, like Christ, can love everyone, including ourselves. Love your neighbor as yourself. That commandment is not only intended as a comparison, but as a double command. Love yourself, love others, love God. Actually, these are three core commandments that summarize the entire gospel and it is sometimes pushed back or less emphasized because it seems selfish and the gospel is aimed at not being selfish.

Yet it is important to know that we are children of God and that self-loathing is not necessary. Hate, in any form, is a negative emotion and rarely leads to anything positive. Self-loathing can embitter a person so much that the rotting process spreads and leads to you becoming completely bitter. That was also included in the lesson I received today from this wonderful girl. Because she liked herself, she was able to share this with others and like others.

This strong testimony gives me the strength to enjoy the love of Christ more and in turn to spread that love to others. Thank you dear Floria[note]name changed for privacy[/note] for the lesson you gave me today.