Dear friend,

 "Hey brother, do you still believe in one another?
Hey sister, do you still believe in love, I wonder?
Oh, if the sky comes falling down, for you,
There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do." -Avicii 

   I know what they say hurts; that despite how hard you try to shrug it off and keep going, it sits in your lungs like ash and every time you try to breathe, you come up with smoke instead. I know it has been hard, that when you are surrounded by laughter, sometimes smiling is the most difficult thing you have ever had to do, but you do it bravely, chin up, eyes filled with tears, and you look away. Time keeps moving, life changes, people move on, and still you stay, remembering, hoping, longing, waiting for the people to come along that will see you for the qualities you posses. I know the world has shown you that you have to act a certain way to be loved, that who you are is not good enough, and no matter what you do, you will always fall short, standing in the corner, watching, merely a passerby. And with a set of your shoulders, and a deep breath, you force a laugh, crack a joke, try to open up, putting on a different mask for every person you come across. And you watch as the ones that do not even seem to try stand in the center with crowds of admirers flocked around them, and you listen as they boast about their accomplishments and gold medals they have won, and you wonder if that is what it takes. 

But you never wanted crowds, I know that, you just wanted someone to see you, to see beyond all the walls you built up, to see past the facades, to love you anyway. So you walk away again, wondering what it is about you that is so wrong, why you have a heart full of love, but no one wants to receive it. And it is not like you did not put any effort into it, because you did, calling, inviting, planning, hoping that for once people will seem interested, but with every canceled appointment, every busy schedule, you store away the rising doubts that no one cares, that people have a certain type that they prefer to be around, and that leaves you out, because you truly believe that despite every talent you posses, that mold will never fit you. Not good enough, not interesting enough, not amusing enough, not smart enough, you pile the doubts together until you have a thunderstorm that even you cannot control; sadness, loneliness, and fear all colliding until broken pieces are flying around your body, wounding and scarring. 

  

 Dear friend, you are more than enough. No, you are not like the rest of them, but that does not make you any less of a person, instead it sets you apart, and only the true-hearted have what it takes to love you, because you reveal everything the fake world lacks, and they know it. You are true, while they know only commitment with gain; you have a pure, kind heart, which makes darkness uncomfortable. You do not have to prove anything, you do not need to change, try to smile more, or feel more comfortable around strangers. I hate that the world has planted that fear in your heart, that unless you shape up, no one will care, and I just want to tell you that God thinks differently. He says to forget about everything the world tells you to do, and simply remember that all He asks from you is kindness, courage, love, and faith. And the people that are meant to be in your life will think you are perfect just the way He made you; captivating, deep thinking, hilariously adventurous, loyal beyond expectation, thoughtful, and dedicated. It will not matter if one day you are sad and quiet, they will still love you; they will not care if you mess up and break a dish, or stumble over a rug. They will not even notice if you fall over your words, like a waterfall crashing to the pool below, because all they will see is the way your eyes light up when you are so excited you cannot get the words out fast enough. 

And no matter what you think, we are all awkward, we are afraid, we all have struggles, and we are all crying at night, lonely for someone we never really had, but miss anyway. The ones that seem the strongest, are usually the most vulnerable, the ones that brag in front of you, are the most insecure. Being the best does not always mean having a room full of friends, sometimes it is just having followers, and those will not care or give a moments thought when a storm breaks out in your life and you just need a safe place. You are enough. No, you are not perfect, yes, you make mistakes, but we all do. It's okay. Just do not stay there, forget about the places you come from, forget about the things you have done, run to Jesus, move forward, push through, hang on. He's a master at taking broken things and making them beautiful, and He thinks you are beautiful. Just because you are not like the rest, does not mean you are not loveable. If people cannot see you for who you are, and all the quirks, and words, and actions that are completely, beautifully your own, then let them go. You should never need to pretend, or try to smile a little brighter, or get a better a score, or grade to be loved. If someone cares for you just because of those things, and if that is all they see, then they do not really love you at all. 

It takes the hard times, the messy, the real, the raw, to really know someone. Let go of the fear, the uncertainty, and let that laugh fill the room, because I know if you weren't afraid, you would set this world on fire. So go grab a match, the spark in your heart is not dead yet, and show the world that you do not have to be like rest. Society is crooked and filled with lies, but we are not of this world, we belong to a kingdom that is so much greater and has overcome darkness. Love, even if it is not returned, smile, even if there is no one to see it. Laugh, because you never know who needed to hear it at that moment, and people who  belong in your life will stay and love you through the tears, struggles, good times, and the moments when you can hardly breathe. Stand up, push through, remember to grow in the things that draw you closer to Jesus, and have fun. It is a beautiful life, and the sun setting over a lake, the circle of droplets that explode when you throw a stone into the river, the laughter, the tears, and everything else you feel so deeply, is what reminds you that you are alive. It's a gift. 

  

Dear friend, thank you for everything you have done for me, for having my back when I was about to give up, for laughing with me until we cried, and for everything else we have shared until our memories could fill up a gallery. Now it is my turn: this is for you. "The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." God's rejoicing over you, just saying.

Amy Jane