To the Girl Looking for More With Grace ValentineSýnishorn

More Love: To The Girl Feeling Hurt

For years I was the girl at the end of the lunch table. Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. We all know that the cool girls in high school sit in the center seats like they’re royalty. Girls like me are edge-seat girls who are always on the brink of being pushed out, removed, and not included.

Being an edge-seat girl was hard, and there were many times when I felt left out. But one experience was especially difficult. I found out a lot of my friends were talking badly about me. They started a horrible rumor, and I was hurt. For years this betrayal stayed in my head. Six years later, one of the mean girls started selling makeup, and guess what? I bought some. I still wanted her to like me, but I also craved an apology. No matter how many lip glosses I bought, she never apologized.

You have been hurt. And you may never get the apology you deserve. But here’s the truth: when you live a loving life, you sacrifice having a fair life. There will be plenty of times you are the more loving one and plenty of times you are the better friend. There will be people who walk on you, and there will be apologies you never receive.

You don’t owe anyone trust, but you do owe your Savior love. And when you love Jesus, you’ll realize those who hurt you are also loved by your good God. He will give you the discernment not to trust them but also the boldness to love them and forgive them. Don’t hang around waiting on an apology. Get busy living a life of love. Love isn’t fair, but love is life-changing.

I’m sorry that friend, that boy, that teacher hurt you. I’m sorry they haven’t apologized. But look up. Your Savior is working in your hard times. He’s giving you the boldness to love those who have hurt you. So on the days the scar stings and you see her profile and wonder if she even thinks about you, look to your Savior as your example. He loved even the people who hung Him on the cross. His best friend Peter denied knowing Him three times when Jesus was arrested. But Jesus forgave him, and Peter became one of the first evangelists to tell others about Jesus. Your Savior loves you despite your messy heart. And your Savior wants you to give grace to others and their messes— not for their gain, but for your peace. Be kind, but not so they will apologize. Be kind and forgive because that’s what Jesus did for you.

Dear God, I feel hurt. But I know that living a kind life is more important than living a fair life. Thank You for forgiving me. Change my heart so that I can love and forgive others. Amen.