Jesus Helped Me Love Myself

This weekend I had the opportunity to travel to meet the Bishop of the Catholic church in Waterloo along with 100 other people on the same journey I am on joining the church. I am now only a few weeks out from the final steps and am anxious to finally be baptized, confirmed and receive the Eucharist for the first time. As Lent has begun I am taking this time to grow spiritually and also reflecting on the immense growth that has come out of the experience so far.

I am astonished by the lack of words I can find to express the mercy and grace that I have come to know as I get to know Jesus. The two Homilies I have heard in the pass week have really stuck with me and given me a clarity that I was struggling to find.

A lot of the time in life we attempt to find what is missing. We are constantly searching for the next what, the next thing, the next job, the next special occasion, ultimately the next thing that will give us happiness or so we think. The reason we constantly fall short of this inner joy we so deeply desire is because we are searching for a WHAT instead of a WHO. This who, loves us wholeheartedly and has an everlasting light the can diminish and guide us through what ever darkness we encounter.

Another goal we all have is to find the person that completes us. And although I am a HOPEFUL romantic this completeness we yearn for starts in being complete spiritually. Letting your heart be healed, forgiven, and surrender yourself to God completely. In losing control in our faith we gain freedom. In him we can find completeness.

As my relationship with Jesus blossoms so has my relationship with myself. In my unanswered prayers I have found that God’s rejection is his protection. My inability to understand his greater plans is breathtaking because how great of a plan must he have for his wisdom is much greater than mine. In realizing that sometimes the things that I want are not the things that are meant for me has made me appreciate the beauty in his timing.

The more I get to know Jesus the more I get to know myself. As I fall in love with Jesus, I’m learning to fall in love with myself. Knowing that God created you with a purpose fills me with hope and reminds me it is our utter responsibility to love ourselves, love others, and glorify him by using the things he intentionally gave to each of us.

With Love,

Jade Marie