I was made to shine.

I was catching up on Girl Meets World and watched the episode “Girl Meets Flaws.” This episode quickly became my favorite. It had quite a few lessons for just half an hour. Riley was worried about what her friends think of her. Billy was jealous of his friends which led him to be mean in order to make himself feel better. Farkle was told he was nothing so he believed it.

I’ve always thought I was confident, but I’m really rather insecure. I guess that’s just scars left over from my childhood that never really healed. I’ve heard that you spend your whole life getting over what happens in your childhood. The more I think about that, the truer it becomes. Mr. Matthews was teaching them and said: “Sometimes the world presents you with opportunities to show who you really are. Will you have the courage to stand up to someone who tries to take your spirit away?” 

The second lesson was how to respond when people are mean. Lucas said: “Don’t let what anybody says get to you; that’s what gives them power.”

When I was a kid I felt like I got the Matilda speech from adults. I gave them the power and tried to fit myself into whatever box they wanted me in.

“Agatha Trunchbull: [accusing Matilda of putting a newt in her drinking water] For this newt, you piss-worm!
Matilda: I’m telling you, I didn’t do it!
Agatha Trunchbull: Besides, even if you didn’t do it, I’m going to punish you, because I’m big and you’re small, I’m right and you’re wrong, and there’s nothing you can do about it!“

Another lesson was that people change. I love that when Billy was being mean, they still worried for their friend. Riley was wondering why Billy didn’t see that he did anything wrong. Maya turns to Riley, like she always does, and says: “Riley, you can’t fix everything. Ok, go ahead.” (I absolutely love that and relate to Riley because I totally try to fix everything too. I totally have a Maya who believes I can too! She’s perfect!) At the end of the episode the kids in the class owned up to their flaws and wrote them on their foreheads. They did this as a way to show Billy it was ok to have flaws. When asked about their foreheads, Maya said: “When I own it, it doesn’t make me feel so bad.” Then Mr. Matthews handed them wipes and said: “We’re all human beings. We’re all on the same team and if we sense our own flaws because we see them in others; it’s true friends who help us wipe them away.”

A friend of mine posted on Instagram this quote: “Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold. Proverbs 11:27” So, I looked up the verse, which says: “If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!” I wanna live like that. I wanna see the best in people always. I wanna be the one who finds the gold in everyone and everything around her. I wanna search for the good.

So, that is my prayer today. I pray that I burn bright for you. I pray that I see the good in others. I pray that I take Proverbs 11:27 with me. I pray that I remember to be patient with people because they can change. I pray that I continue to change as well. I pray that I continue to grow and learn. I pray that I stop letting others control me and try to take away my spirit. I pray that I stop giving them power over me. I pray that I focus only on you. I pray that I accept my flaws because you made me. I heard that we shouldn’t feel insecure about our flaws because it was like insulting you because you worked so hard to make us. Thank you for picking out every single hair on my head. Thank you for picking out my every strength and flaw. Thank you for creating me. I pray that I shine for you. And as always I pray for my family and sorority sisters. I pray for my university. I pray for guidance for our government, church, and school leaders. I pray for protection for our troops. I pray for all of those that need you now and for those that haven’t met you yet. In Jesus’ name, Amen.