Valentine's Day came and went, and with it brought a whole slew of mixed emotions. But whether you celebrated the holiday or not, everyone knows what the whole day is centered around: LOVE.
Even though it's true that this holiday is based on love in the romantic sense, there are plenty of other sources of love to celebrate if you weren't out with your significant other. Some spent time having fun with their friends. Some celebrated the love of family. While all of these choices are equally important to acknowledge and value, the most important kind of love to celebrate that extends to the rest of the 364 days of the year, is the love Our God has for us, which translates into the love we have for ourselves.
Loving oneself is essential to leading a healthy and happy lifestyle. Let me clarify, I'm not talking about the kind of self-love that borderlines narcissism, but rather just feeling at peace with yourself and having comfort in your own skin. Being able to name the things we love about ourselves is key to forming our personal identity and self-esteem, and gives us the confidence to step out into the world to do the great things we have been created to do.
And what's not to love? Every single person on this Earth is a one-of-a-kind work of art. There is something about each of us that makes us different, unique and special. We were all hand-crafted by Our Maker to have our very own purpose and to love ourselves so that we, in turn, can love one another.
Every "flaw" you think you may have, was put in place by The Most Talented of Artists, and every "quirk" is put in place to make you stand out and perfectly compliment someone else's out in the world. I've heard many times that in order to love others fully, you must first learn to love yourself. We were all called to love others, and by our nature seek companionship. That being said, learning to love who you are is also essential in reaching out to others.
God's love for you is unmatched, He took the time to add in every detail, characteristic, and trait to make His masterpiece: YOU. And if being loved beyond measure by the Savior of all people doesn't make you feel the slightest bit of love for yourself, then what can? He doesn't make mistakes, and forming you in His image is included in His list of perfect creations.
I know we all have bad days. Days where we don't like the way we look, or someone's made us feel unwanted, or we've messed up big-time and it feels like we can never come back from it. When these days creep up, keep in mind who created you.
Remember that you serve a purpose and that you have something special about you that no one else can match. Remember that you are loved unconditionally by The One who matters most and that you should give yourself some love too. Remember that quite literally, you are irreplaceable, and let that motivate you to go do the job that only you can do.
Song of Soloman 4:7
"You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you."
Psalm 139:13-15
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth."
1 John 4:19
"We love because he first loved us."
Psalm 139:14
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
