Excerpt from an Email

I wrote the below in an email to a good friend who was struggling. When I was finished, I read it out loud to James. I wanted to make sure I wasn't being too harsh-- but they asked for my opinion and I have a hard time beating around the bush... James approved. Paused. Then told me it sounded like I was writing it to myself. 

Well, of course. 

Any blog I write that resonates, any email I send of a difficult subject matter I can articulate because I've been there. Every post on this blog I write to myself first of all, a tool to remind myself of who I am and where I've come from and where I'm going. So the below is an excerpt from an email I wrote to my friend... but one I need to also hear for myself, and one I hope everyone can internalize and realize and live from.

People Try out of fear. Try to be good enough. Smart enough. Wealthy enough. Have the perfect marriage. Perfect kids. Perfect life. They judge because they feel judged. They put down in order to feel lifted up. They struggle and they try because fear propels them to work for love and acceptance.

I pray you can feel the freedom of living in true grace. You deserve to be loved for who you are and not what you do. For just you.  

Until you truly believe that in your heart and in your gut and deep down in the dark places of your soul, you will always struggle to be good enough. You will try to stop seeming arrogant. You will try to be nicer. You will try to watch your words and tone. You will try try try try... and you will struggle and beat your head against the wall and you will fail. Once you learn the unfathomable truth of real love and freedom and joy, you won't have to try anymore... humility and grace will flow from you. The emptiness will be gone. The wounds of your divorce will heal. The depression will be gone. You will sing and dance and rejoice... that is my prayer for you....

Amen