Love Learn Lead March 2, 2017

Happy Thursday! As it is week one of two that we will be talking about Self Love, I thought I’d share that recently Self Love, for me, has looked like a lot of time on the couch. Last week, I came down with a cold that wiped me out for almost a good week. But—it did give me plenty of time to read. Today, I share with you one of the books that kept me company. Here is today’s Love, Learn, Lead. Enjoy!

Love

This winter, PBS has been airing a new Masterpiece show entitled Victoria, about the life of England’s former queen. In the first episode, we meet an eighteen year old Victoria who learns that she has just become queen of the most powerful country in the world. Watching her navigate politics and the responsibilities of her crown—as well as her come into her own as a woman and as a leader—is what I have enjoyed the most. Also, if you like Pride and Prejudice era films, you will love not only the story of Victoria, but also its breathtaking scenes.

What are you loving these days?

Learn

“Our Identity must shift from helpless, striving, surviving, insignificant small humans to eternally loved, secure, confident, dangerous, empowered people on a clear, noble, eternal mission, who also happen to accomplish that as they are teachers, clerks, executives, janitors, mothers, and friends.”

—Jennie Allen, Nothing to Prove (p.52)

Confession: For as long as I can remember, I have wrestled with feeling like I am not enough. In fact, because I grew up struggling to see my worth, I believe the concept of Self Love (like I shared on Monday), was so hard for me to grasp. But over the past ten years, a shift has taken place. In my walk with Jesus, and on my journey of self care, I have begun to make some important strides in this area. The only frustrating part, is it is a struggle that is hard to shake.

This feeling of not being enough combined with a long standing desire to please people, seems to be the place where God most wants to work on my lately. So, it didn’t seem like a coincidence when my friend and I were at a conference, and saw they were selling signed copies of Jennie Allen’s new book, Nothing To Prove—right after we met Jennie herself. Obviously, we each bought a copy.

Though I told my friend I had other books I was reading, it didn’t take me long to crack this book open. It is just where I am at these days; and a book about how we have Nothing To Prove, seems extra fitting. I am moving through it slower than I do with most books, but that is because what Jennie has to say about not feeling or being enough, is especially good. If you are like me, and you have struggled similarly, this book may be an important one for you to pick up.