You Say

Walk into any classroom of six year olds and ask who can sing. You'll see a sea of hands raised with pride. Ask a group of six year olds who can draw. The hands will shoot up again. Ask those same children if God loves them and see their unquestionable confidence in their "yes" responses.

Have you ever been to a school concert with that one child that is belting it out above the rest or dancing without an awareness of anyone else around? Our eyes are drawn to the boldness of this child who is unafraid of judgment.

As children, we believe we can do anything. One thing I love about teaching elementary students is just that. That innocence and belief in themselves is inspiring.

At what point do we lose this innocence? This undeniable belief in ourselves? We hear once that a drawing isn't great, or someone laughs at it. And the next time we draw, we're slightly hesitant, aware of others' opinions.

When it comes to drawing in class, I'm the least confident of anyone in the group. I even have a routine.
Me: Did I go to school to be an artist?
Kids: (giggles) No.
Me: What did I go to school to be?
Kids: A teacher!
Me: So is this going to be a perfect (insert animal or illustration) ?
Kids: No!

I feel the need, in a group of non-judgmental six year olds, to justify my lack of artistic ability. News flash: They don't care!


As we grow older, we become jaded by the world and the opinions of those around us. Or maybe it's just me. But I don't think so.

I can personally say that I've defined my worth based on others' views of me. Wow. What an incredible power I've given to people that may or may not even know me. I've allowed myself to believe that I am just as good as others think I am. How sad is that?



I read recently (and reread and reread and reread...) something like "Your worth is not defined by others' ability to recognize it." I've been praying this, reading this, hoping I would believe it soon.

I lost sight of my worth for too long. I forgot that I had it. I let others take my worth into their hands and gave all my power away. And for the first time in a long time, all that reading, praying, hoping is doing something.

I set reminders in my phone often. This is one of my ways of giving myself positive self-talk throughout the day. I've been focusing my worth in this positive self-talk. 

It's so true that you believe what you hear over and over. To overcome that negativity in the world, I have to go above and beyond to counteract it, especially if I've allowed years of it to build up.

I set a daily reminder in my phone that says: You are beautiful! Gosh was that one a hard one to type out. It felt so prideful. And to be honest, I didn't feel it. When I put that reminder in my phone to go off at 5:00pm each day, what I was thinking about were all the things I didn't find beautiful about myself. My mind was filled with all of the exceptions. But reading it every day has changed my views of myself. All those exceptions have melted away and become some of the things I love most about myself. Not all of them, but there is nothing about me that makes me lose that undeniable, God-given worth.

I remind myself that I have a positive impact on those around me (7:00am), that I'm worthy (12:30pm), that I'm proud of myself (7:30pm), and much more.

As I write this, I have the song "You Say" performed by Lauren Daigle on repeat for the 12th or 13th time. If you haven't heard it, stop right now and listen.

Did you do it?

If you're not religious, put yourself in the voice of "You".

The song speaks to those negative thoughts. There are constant voices telling me, telling all of us that we're not enough. But deep down there's that six year old that needs to be reignited and reminded that she or he can do anything. That class of six year olds knows God loves them and created them to be beautiful.

Today and each day I set a goal to remind myself that I don't have to be jaded. That my worth isn't defined by anyone's ability or inability to see it. I have worth because I am a human. Period. Regardless of my flaws, my shortcomings, my ability to put my foot in my mouth, or my artistic abilities.

Hold onto that worthiness. Know that you are enough. Not because I say. Because You Say.

"No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master." Matthew 10:24