I See You

 

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

I received a verbal comment on a recent post. "Thanks for being 'teachy' and not preachy." I don't always feel that I've not been preachy, so that was a good compliment. Everything I write about is something I've struggled with, observed in my own life, or needed healing in. 

I am in the beginning stages of a new project, and have begun re-reading many of my old blog posts. I have noticed that my writing has changed as I have grown into a person who has experienced different stages of life experiences. As the younger generation would say, I "cringed" at some of my older pieces, but I left them, because we can all learn from each other's mistakes and dare I say, "preachiness." I could get on my soapbox, that's for sure, being long-winded and passionate about subjects I felt needed aired out with my thoughts and opinions. It's not wrong, per se, it's just not necessary. 

All I can say is I had no way to express myself for a long time in my life, and I had found my voice in writing. I've had to learn to temper the gift I found for the healthy vehicle I needed to express everything I'd been holding inside. I don't communicate as well in person. It's not that easy for me. Words are so important. They give us a way to connect not only with ourselves, but with others. But using them carefully is a huge responsibility, whether spoken or in print. I think that's why the words I've spoken would come out "wrong" and the words I would write would be a bit more thought out. I needed time to think about them. Some people are just wired that way. 

Sometimes we can learn from our old selves how we no longer want to be in our new selves. It's good to take a look once in awhile just for that reminder and validation that we are going in a better direction. I would never tell someone they can't say what they want or need to say, or to not have an opinion, or not to preach. But for me, my writing needs to fit who I am, and that person is someone who wants to reach others, inspire, and care for others' hearts. I want to be the best representation of Christ that I can be with my writing, and also the most authentic version of me. 

I have spent much of my life feeling unseen, unheard, overlooked, invisible, and that I don't matter. I don't think I am in a special class. Many people go through life in this way, even in their own families. People of faith can feel this way. People who seem to "have it all" feel this way. It's a common thread we all share—we all want to be seen, heard, and matter to someone. We don't want to be rejected. We want to be loved. We want to be fully known. My writing has been my attempt to be fully known, and those who read may get that part of me. It seems like such an easy thing to do, isn't it? Yet people still don't make the effort to see, know, or really look at each other. 

God sees us, knows us, and we matter to Him. I still believe He places people in our lives who will see us for who we are, and people who need us to see them. Be on the lookout. An "I see you" can go a really long way. Whether we communicate with the spoken word or the written word, we can make a difference connecting with the people around us, more than we know. 

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 

Luke 12:6-7