Dear 16 year old Brittnye

Dear 16 year old Brittnye, I’m sorry you felt that way about yourself. You were lovely and youthful and in the prime of your life, and I’m sorry you allowed comparison and comments from others cause you to view yourself in such a poor light.

I’m sorry that you carried the burden around so long, believing your worth was tied to your appearance rather than remembering your worth was given to you simply because you are created in the image of God.

And I’m sorry that you thought you needed to be someone else, someone other than who God created you do be, in order to matter. That you believed the lie that popularity and man’s approval made you valuable rather than remembering that the inner, unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is what God values.

I know you didn’t fully understand it then. You were young, but now you’ve lived twice as much life and have a different perspective. And I wish you could have seen yourself then the way your 33 year old self sees you when she looks at old pictures now.

But I’m glad that you’ve learned truth even if the lessons were hard. And on the days when you still struggle with your reflection in the mirror, remember what you now know. And on the days you wonder if what you’re doing and who you are actually matters, remember what you now know.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You always have been, and you always will be because you are the handiwork, and beloved child, of God.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14