One of the most important questions you’ll ask yourself is, who are you, and who do you need to be? Your life will be richer and happier if you’re “you,” but who are you?
You are the most wonderful person in the world. You’re a child of God, a beautiful creature made in His image. No matter what you’ve done, what you’ve thought, or how you feel about yourself, God loves you.
You may not understand how awesome you are. God knows who you are, how you feel, what you enjoy. You hear that still, small voice that tells you the truth. But there may be influences in your life, like friends, peers, parents, and society in general, that create and expect a different “you,” one that they want you to be. And you become that “you.”
Your parents love you. Sometimes without realizing it, they put pressures on you that aren’t fair. They may demand that you be studious, participate in sports, learn to play a musical instrument, even if that’s not “you,” or what you enjoy. You do it because that’s who they want you to be.
You may have friends that are good influences, but some may want you to be do things you know aren’t right, things that aren’t ‘you.” You may gossip with them, smoke, shoplift, or
even get involved in drugs with them. That’s not who you are, but you go along with it because you want to be liked or feel like you belong.
Who you’re around may be who you become. If you’re around positive people, you’re more likely to be a positive person. If you’re around negative people, you may be negative too. What loved ones say to and about you is often who you believe you are, and who you become.
You and God, our Father in Heaven, know who you are. God wants you to be happy and enjoy your life. He wants you to be close to him and follow your heart.
People do two things…they either lift you up, or bring you down. The friends that don’t love and respect you, well, they bring you down. It’s hard, especially at school, but they’re probably not true friends, and it’s time to get new ones.
True friends lift you up. They love and respect who you are, just as you love and respect who they are. You feel good when you’re with them. You feel like you are true to yourself, like you are being “you.”
I have a challenge for you, that’s worth your happiness if you accept it. Surround yourself with people you love, and who love you for you!
See ya around,
Jacob
Photos:
Another Place by Mark Crossfield , licensed
2013-05-04 Black and White by Denise Krebs, licensed
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