Differences

  We are surrounded by a world of different. No matter how long you look, no matter how close you are with other people, there will always be differences. Different opinions, different values, different outlooks on life. And I, like most other human beings, have a way of forcing our opinions, our values, what we believe is right, onto others. We all think we have the right way of living, so we try to instill that into everyone around us. You should have this religion. You shouldn't wear that. You should feel this way about that person. A great chunk of our lives is spent persuading people to be more like us.
  In this big old book that I believe to be true, 1 Corinthians chapter 13: 4-7 says:  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
   As friends, I want to be better at letting you be who you want to be. I do not want to get in your way and make you something you don't value. I want to respect your opinions and actions. I want you to be free to shape yourself, instead of me shaping you. And most of all, I want to show you love and positivity, even if you can sometimes get on my nerves (to put it bluntly, haha). I want to work on me before you.
 And I hope you can do the same for me.
 Claire

#goJesuslol