You Matter And You Are Loved!

by Jerico

I would say that one of the earliest Bible verses that I learned was John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life…”

During this time in Lent, I can’t help but think and reflect about the word LOVE and how that resonates not just in my life but in the lives of those around me. Love was not always a topic I wanted to think about, especially growing up,and it's for one reason alone… I never thought that I was loved! I always assumed the worst when it came to my relationships with people. I didn’t think that love was real…

Let me take you back to 1998… I was just a kid when I heard my parents fight. I didn’t know at the time what the reasons were but it was just a simple argument. Things would be thrown, words that I have never heard at that time were said and I felt like things were crumbling right in front of me. I often felt numb to everything happening around me. I wondered if my parents fell out of love? At that moment, I didn’t believe in it… love? What was it? If my parents couldn't hold on to it, why should I? Maybe I’ll take the risk to love… but never really wanted to express it in return, because I didn’t want to be hurt. I didn’t want to feel the same way I did when my parents fought…. Numb.

As I grew older, I kept to myself a lot. I had friends here and there but always wanted to live a different life. I didn’t want to be me. I didn't love who I was. I often told stories about a person and made people believe I was a different person. I wanted people to love who I was... me…. But in a different way.

I didn’t know it at the time but I really didn’t love myself. Was it because I wasn’t taught how to love? Or was I afraid to love because it led to that hurt, pain, and numbness I felt as a kid? Fastforwarding to my senior year in high school and into my freshman year of college. I felt lost and really didn’t know what to do. In an odd way, God reached out to me through the people in my life. I was given a piece of paper that said, YOU MATTER AND YOU ARE LOVED! That simple piece of paper gave me hope about who I was to truly be. It didn’t happen with a snap of a finger but through some time and self reflection, God showed me that it was ok to be who I was and to not apologize for it. Looking back at it now, I didn’t think it was God’s work. I still struggle with seeing His work in my life. But each day I bring myself closer to prayer and reflection, I can see where it matters the most and see God in my everyday life.

Going back to the verse… when I was a kid and into my teen years, I felt like I perished. I was not my true self and ultimately who I was to become. But I felt more alive when I allowed people to love me and allowed myself to love me..to love my flaws, my greatness, myself!

In 2018, Lauren Daigle released a song entitled, “YOU SAY” . Have a listen! Trust me you won't regret it!

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough

Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low

Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

And you say I am held when I am falling short

And when I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours

And I believe

Oh, I believe

What You say of me

I believe

When I see and hear this John 3:16 and hear this song, I think about the many others whose definition of love is so skewed. My advice…allow yourself to be loved and love you. It is easier said than done. But the rewards are greater because YOU MATTER! YOU ARE LOVED!

Readings at USCCB.org

First reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23

Psalm: Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

Second reading: Ephesians 2:4-10

Gospel: John 3:14-21

Saint Anne Catholic Church

Union City, CA

You Matter And You Are Loved!