August 2020 Love Letters: Day 22
Hello, darling!
Plants have taken over and attempted to fill the space left by the absence of hugs and in-person friends…I’m up to 28 now, although two of my plant friends are struggling to stay alive. I miss you still. I miss wrapping my arms around you, going heart to heart, and syncing up our breathing to move as one…a friend of mine dropped off some homemade pickles tonight and I hugged her, and it was such sweet balm for my soul it almost brought me to tears.
The best thing we can all do right now is try to stay positive and look for the silver linings. We can individually change the world for all of us if we just start to show more consideration for our fellow women and men around us. Take it one connection at a time, be vulnerable, and trust that if you persist in kindness that the other person will do the same. Remember, love, a hurting person hurts people, and love is what heals. Love God, love others, love the world. Love YOURSELF. You are a stunning creature, capable of doing absolutely amazing things, and I simply adore you.
Darling, my darling…there is so much more to life than this time we are in quarantine. It is not going to last forever and we will get through it together. Times like these certainly help us to refine our character and our perspective, it helps us to realize what is really important, and shows us our own strength we may not have previously been aware of. With our Creator supporting us, we are more powerful than we could possibly ever imagine. Kindness, to me, is the most powerful weapon you can wield, and everyone wins.
Sometimes, we can all use a little attitude adjustment, including me. Believe it or not, I get grumpy and frustrated and fed up with things, too. We all need someone to lean on sometimes, you cannot be all pillar all the time, no matter how hard you try. Showing your true self does not make you weak; vulnerability is a SUPERPOWER, y’all. It requires stepping up and being the first one to admit when you need help, when you need a friend to listen, to share your testimony even though it scares the piss outta ya, to get up in front of a group of people and share where you think you’re weak. You never know how many lives your story can change or how many other people can relate to what you’ve been through if you don’t open up.
Crack the shell, my love. Let your light spill out. Make amends where necessary. Accept the forgiveness that has freely been offered to you. Know that you are loved and supported on this journey we call life. Imagine, right now, that I am squishing your cheeks in between my hands and looking you right in the eyes to tell you this: I BELIEVE IN YOU. You are worthy of the love I am pouring into you, and worthy of pouring that same love into yourself and others. You are worthy. Full stop. God loves and accepts you, just as you are. I love and accept you just as you are. There is room at the table for all of us, and you are always welcome at mine.
Truly yours,
L Joy
