Who doesn't love the idea of perfection?

Everyone wants to be a part of a perfect relationship we see posted on Instagram and Facebook. We all want to post captions like #friendshipgoals and #couplegoals. But what if the idea of perfection is what creates expectations that are impossible to attain? Just hear me out real quick...

So, one afternoon at a coffee shop with a cappuccino on my right and eyephones in my ears, I found myself doodling these lyrics of a song in my journal:

"Who will love me for me? Not for what I have done or what I will become. Who will love me for me?" -JJ Heller

So I began to think, for someone to love you for you, the depths of you, they have to know you because how can they love something or someone they don’t know?

Then the question is...who really knows you?

Personally, I find it easier to show an image of who I am supposed to be, what I’m good at, what’s on the outside, and how I’m thriving and happy...But is that really me, if it's not all of me?

It’s definitely more difficult to show...me. But why? Why is so hard being and showing myself? Isn’t it suppose to be the easiest thing?

Simply put, I realized all relationships entails vulnerability and being intentional…It’s a struggle and often times it’s embarrassing, especially when someone sees that you’re not perfect. A cycle of disappointment awaits when there’s an expectation to be met.

So, once again, what would you do if someone says they love you, but they actually love the idea and image of you? Its happened to me multiple times, and to say the least...it sucks because whatever that image may be, it’s not all of me.

Yes. I’m an optimist, but I also have my doubts.

Yes. I’m tough, but I’m also just a human.

Yes. I’m carefree, but I also have feelings.

Yes. I’m a Christian, but I’m also a sinner.

When brokenness, struggle, and embarrassment is shown, will they stick through it with you? Or will they try to “fix” you to what they expect you to be? Or will they encourage you and accept you for the brokenness? Or will there be judgment through the disappointment?

Whatever the outcome is, maybe the blame isn’t just on the one who sees the image of perfection, but also our own faults for portraying only that to them.

Everyone seeks out love, but what if the first step of finding it lays in our hands to simply be ourselves, to be intentional.