(If nothing else, listen to the Dear Me song. Lyrics at the bottom as well.)

As long as she could remember, making paper airplanes was her specialty. It was a way for her to relax. One thing she could control and see immediate results of her work. She perfected her craft.

She would search for the perfect piece of paper. It had to feel just right. Not too thin and not too thick. She learned to fold the creases of the wings just right. Hold it at the right angle and let it fly. Watching her creation fly across the room always made her smile.

She had a stressful day. A stressful week to be more exact. She poured herself a glass of wine and got out a piece of paper. She made it like she always does. She let it fly through the air. She watched it as it crossed the room. It did a double loop and started to nosedive. Her husband came in from outside and the airplane caught a current and rose again. It took a sharp right and flew right into the fireplace.

As she watched it turn to ashes the truth hit her hard.

She was always trying to be perfect. Be the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect chef, maid, employee, taxi-driver, dresser, friend etc.

Everything in her life had to be perfect. She couldn’t ask for help from her husband or children because they wouldn’t make it perfect. Make your bed but what’s the point, she would just redo it. Put the dishes away but she would just rearrange the dishwasher. Fold the laundry but she would refold them also.

Her posts on Facebook were all about her perfect life. Her Instagram pictures always had her and her family smiling.

People were always asking her how she did it all. How can she always so held together? But as she watched the paper airplane turn to ashes she realized that was her. Any moment she knew she was going to fall apart. She couldn’t keep up the charade.

It was in that moment she heard a voice telling her it’s okay. No one needs you to be perfect. It’s a lie that’s been put in your head. It’s okay to be a mess. That’s why Jesus died for you. He came to help the sick and the sinner. No one is perfect. Let it go.

It was like a giant weight had been taken off her. She started to cry but they were tears of joy. Tears of relief.

She woke the next morning and went downstairs without making the bed. She didn’t put makeup on or fix her hair.

Her husband did a double check and smiled. He said; “you look so beautiful.” She smiled back.

“Who wants to help make pancakes for breakfast?” she asked the kids. “Yeah, we do, we do!” After breakfast was made she looked at the kitchen and smiled. It was a mess but it was okay. It will wait. This moment to spend with her family will not.

From the ashes of the paper airplane an amazing, not perfect, woman was created.

Dear Me
This is a letter to the girl I used to be
Dear Me
There are some things that you should know
It’s not my intention to embarrass or to shame you
What’s inside the rear-view mirror is closer than it appears
We do the best that we know how, with what we have been given
And the difference between you and I is, I’ve been given time
In time, you’ll see

Dear Me
This is a letter to the girl I used to be
Some things are not as simple as we said
Remember when we thought there were a handful of some magic words to pray
A guarantee and a down payment on a mansion
Remember all the rules we made about the Body and the Blood
The hoops we made them jump through
Though He offers it to everyone
I’m so sorry

Do you remember now the things I said I thought that I deserved
My flag, and safety, a place to learn
The things I know I didn’t earn
And bless their hearts, I’m sure it’s hard
But handouts don’t help anyone
And all the talk about the system
I sure hope someone can fix them
I said those things

Dear Me
This is a letter to the girl I used to be
You’ll see, you’re gonna take the long way
And there is nothing you could do or say to separate you
From the love of God who made you just exactly as He meant to
And you cannot imagine all the places you’ll see Jesus
But you’ll find Him everywhere you thought He wasn’t supposed to go
So, go!.. Go!..

And hold all the mothers, whose babies bleed from bullet holes
And feel all the hunger, the bellies and the bones
Shout for the prisoner, cry for justice, loud and long
And march with the victims, as Jesus marches on
And sit at all the tables, ’cause Jesus eats with everyone
And dance to the music, if you can’t sing its native tongue
And cry for the wombs, the mothers and the empty arms
And hold high the warriors, fighting now for freedoms’ song

And love, love, love, love
Like it’s your own blood
And love, love, love, love
As you have been loved
Love, love, love, love
Like it’s your own blood
Love, love, love, love
As you have been loved
Love, love, love, love, love
Like you have been
Love, love, love, love, love
It’s all about love!
Love, love, love, love, love
His name is love
Love, love, love, love, love

Dear Me
You did not learn this in a day or two or three
So ask a lot of questions
But Jesus loves us, this I know
And there are no exceptions

Dear Me by Nichole Nordeman – 

My Prayer For You by Alisa Turner – 

If She Knew by Micah Tyler – 

Turn My Eyes by Bonray – 

Barbies by Pink –