Speaking Love in the Fall

Before school started a good friend of mine gave me a book called Speak Love by Annie F. Downs. This interactive 12 chapter book dives into speaking love and struggles girls face. This book is broken down into three parts: conversations with God, conversations with others, and last but not least? You. Each part and chapter let's you dive into self-reflection. For me speaking love isn't always the easiest thing. I love to love others and give 100%, but its not always reciprocated. I can be quick to get hurt and want to fire back harsh words. But with the help of my mom the past 2 years have become a lot easier with ranting to my mom and finding out what my hurt is and how to communicate how I feel. This book is great for any girl in high school or college who deals with speaking love. It can be hard to speak love when your confidence and self-esteem are not high. But if you sit down and sort through the Bible about what God says about you I'm confident your confidence will grow enormously. Reading verses like Song of Solomon 4.7 " You are altogether beautiful, my love;there is no flaw in you."

WOW! Listen to that truth, I don't know about you but that sure makes me feel good. Man, I have some insecurities (who doesn't?) I love my self and my body but man do I wish I could have one of those toned and fit bodies you see so many Instagram girls with. I love going to the gym and nothing feels better than getting sweaty but gosh theirs so many days I rather lay in bed and watch TV. One way I fight this is by seeing girls who have beautiful hair, cute little noses, fit bodies and complimenting them. It makes them feel better and it makes me feel better. It also gives me a reason to get in the gym or get my hair done or look in the mirror and remember every inch of me God's hand's made for his own purpose. Speaking that truth to yourself is what's gonna help you speak it to others. Luke 6:45 says "Out of the overflow of [her} heart [her] mouth speaks."

I challenge you this month to write down ways to can speak love to others. Here are some ideas

- write a teacher a sweet note

- text your roommate something sweet, or write them little notes of encouragement

- tell your mom how amazing she is

- tell your siblings how thankful you are to have them

- most encouragements on your social media

- write a letter to a friend at a different college or school

Let me know what you do and how it goes!

xoxo,

Liv