Masterpieces

⁣The worst assignment in school I ever had was given in art class. ⁣ Seriously. ⁣ ⁣ It’s one thing to see yourself, it’s another to give others an insight into what you see. ⁣ ⁣ When my teacher asked us to draw/paint our self portrait, I was immediately flushed with anxiety & humiliation. ⁣ ⁣ Junior year in high school was the worst school year of my life. I didn’t have many friends at school. I was playing for a coach that tore my confidence to pieces & I was going through a breakup I never saw coming. In the middle of the year, I switched schools, quit my team (something I’m not proud of) and restarted “fresh” again. ⁣ ⁣ My confidence was at its very lowest. ⁣ Being asked to showcase that emptiness in the form of pen to paper was the last thing I wanted to do. ⁣ ⁣ And ya know what, I didn’t. ⁣ I left the school before the assignment was due & I never took another art class again. ⁣ ⁣ What I saw in the mirror often led me to nights crying on the bathroom floor. It made me chase the wrong boys & allowed me to be hurt by people I shouldn’t have given the opportunity in the first place. My self-deprecating humor constantly tore myself down (in an effort to beat others to it) and the number on the scale was reaching an all-time high. ⁣ ⁣ And no bit of paint or shading could beautifully cover that. ⁣ ⁣ It took me a long time to get from where I was then to where I am now. ⁣ ⁣ In fact, it’s a long story of finding my way back to myself, seeing myself through the eyes of grace & finally healing my relationship with food & the scale. ⁣ ⁣ There is no cute Instagram-worthy list to lead you out from the depths of insecurity. It’s just not that easy, I won’t lie. BUT what I do know - is that it all starts with one small step. ⁣ ⁣ The portrait I’d paint of my life today is much different than the one I saw back then. It’s colorful, bright, full of hope & boldness. It is layered with beautiful complexities unseen on the canvas, full of life & strength. ⁣ ⁣ I know I am a masterpiece of the Lord instead of a mistake of my own doing. I am a priceless piece of art, worthy of the finest gallery. I’m covered in heaven-worthy brush strokes. ⁣ ⁣ And you are too. ⁣✨🎨