Listen :: Be Kind To Yourself
I listened to “Be Kind To Yourself” by Andrew Peterson on repeat yesterday. A friend posted it on Facebook and it reminded me there was a whole “new” Andrew Peterson album I hadn’t heard. And by “new,” I mean a year old. I would tell you about the album, but I had song #8 on repeat.
But that song literally spoke truth into my house yesterday.
“You’ve got all that emotion that’s heaving like an ocean
And you’re drowning in a deep, dark well
I can hear it in your voice that if you only had a choice
You would rather be anyone elseI love you just the way that you are
I love the way He made your precious heartBe kind to yourself
Be kind to yourselfI know it’s hard to hear it when that anger in your spirit
Is pointed like an arrow at your chest
When the voices in your mind are anything but kind
And you can’t believe your Father knows bestI love you just the way that you are
I love the way He’s shaping your heartBe kind to yourself
Be kind to yourselfWell how does it end when the war that you’re in
Is just you against you against you
Gotta learn to love, learn to love
Learn to love your enemies tooYou can’t expect to be perfect
It’s a fight you’ve gotta forfeit
You belong to me whatever you do
So lay down your weapon, darling
Take a deep breath and believe that I love you …”{Andrew Peterson in “Be Kind To Yourself”}
My fourth-grader misplaced a folder with a paper she was supposed to return to school. I know the frustration of knowing you had something but not remembering where you last had it. She’s also still missing her best friend, and that grief is fresh after a FaceTime conversation earlier this week. I know about those conflicting emotions that rise up when you least expect them. Plus there’s been a little conflict with another classmate during recess. I know how those situations can echo in your heart and the replays often make it worse.
Many of the frustrations came from the battles within herself. I fight some of those internal battles myself, so I know the burdens they create.
We may not share any genes, but my first-born, rule-following, people-pleasing girl is like me in so many ways. I know the same frustrations that were on her mind. I know how being tired magnifies them. I know the personal expectations that are ridiculous and distract from what matters.
It’s easy to listen to emotions and lies and expectations. But it’s more important to listen to truth.
Andrew Peterson’s song encompasses a message I’ve spent years trying to digest. It’s the same truth I want my girl to hear in her heart and mind when those emotions well up and things are misplaced.
Be kind to yourself. Forfeit the fight to be perfect. Listen to God’s truth.
*****
I’m glad to be linking up with the Five Minute Friday crew at Kate Motaung’s place. Come join us. The rules are simple: Set a time for five minutes and write on the one-word prompt, which this week is LISTEN.
I’m not exactly sure I love crying this early in the morning..maybe 10 isn’t that early. I found this song this summer and after listening, told God it was my theme song. I struggle with the same things your daughter does, am also the first born, but 26 years old. I can remember soo many school years of staying up way too late to do homework and sobbing the next morning because it wasn’t done. I think I may have had missing folders too. It’s really a difficult thing to realize how much pressure trying to be perfect creates to where you don’t want to try at all and don’t know what it means to love yourself. I hope and pray your daughter lets Jesus continue to love her and be full to overflow to others. And may He continue to heal you through this song, so you know too. ❤️ You are doing a beautiful thing. Let’s keep sucking in the truth.
Visiting from fmf.
Thanks for visiting, Julia! It definitely is going to become a theme song around here too. I’m glad you’re finding freedom. Happy weekend!
The demon we all share. UGH.
Isn’t that the truth?! But I’m so glad there’s a way, or rather The Way, out.
All the yeses to THIS: “Be kind to yourself. Forfeit the fight to be perfect. Listen to God’s truth.”
It’s such simple advice, but, goodness, it’s hard sometimes!
So simple~be kind to yourself~love it, but the struggle is real, over-comer perfectionist here, so why I need Jesus!!
Simple yet difficult all at the same time! Glad you’re here, friend!
Oh, Kristin. This song is so sweet, so simple and beautiful. . . and the visuals of Andrew Peterson playing with those two teens has me in tears. Are those his kids? It is such a beautiful and powerful image of God. Thank you, friend. (Now you have me in tears this Monday morning. . . and that’s a good thing) 🙂
Isn’t it beautiful? It’s been on repeat around here a lot lately! I do believe those are his kids, which makes it even more beautiful. Happy Monday, friend. xoxo
So beautiful. I often say to my daughters, ” be kind to yourself”, when they are finding things tough. I so need to do that for myself. Why do we do it? Who puts that pressure on us to be good; to to be in control all the time; to sort it all out; to have all the answers; to get it all done? I try to surf everything out. Try to take the pressure off others. I try to justify how I spend my time. “No need to be perfect..” Beautiful song. Thanks for sharing it.
Those daughters are blessed to have you and that affirmation in their life. This song continues to speak to me so I’m glad you could be encouraged by it too. Thanks for being here!