317. Value.

This one goes out especially for the ladies, but men need to hear it too. I just think it's something that women seek out a lot. I know men do too, but I'm just speaking from a woman's point of view... so, yeah.

You, my friend, are valuable. I know we've heard this a billion times, but it's totally true. Last year I found my biggest value in my relationship with Thiago. Thiago and I said "I love you" to each other, and we bought rings (for the Americanos here, they're not engagement rings or anything like that... it's just part of Brasilian culture. It's what you do when you're in a serious relationship with someone. It doesn't mean you're like "marriage" serious... but it's more than just a Summer fling type thing.) And, oh man... for a long time there, my value was found in Thiago. Someone loved me and thought I was beautiful. He gave up his free time to be with me. I was Thiago's everything. It's great, really!! =]

But the thing is... my value is so much more than that and for a long time, that was my only value. It's not, though. God, the holy, awesome, great God loves me. He didn't give up His time for me, He created time for me. He didn't just pick a flower for me, He created a whole world for me. And on top of that, He died for me - in my place. He gave me my life and then gave me His on top of that. He told me that He's always with me and I'm His daughter. There's my value. GOD LOVES ME!! I am so valuable. I'm worth so much. God thinks I'm worthy of dying for? Like... literally? Really? I'm worth a whole lot.

And so are you! Ain't that something?

If you really start believing that... man, it just changes everything. It changes how you treat yourself, how you go about your day, how you let boys treat you. It just changes everything when you realize who you are in Christ.