A Letter To My Daughter About Self-Worth

          One of the things I look forward to most in this life is knowing you. I love you, even when you're screaming and biting and covered in . . . who knows what. Seeing the smile of a toddler brings me so much joy, and I know it's going to increase tenfold when you are my own. I am going to finally understand for myself how it feels to love a child the way the Christ loves me. I am going to have your fragile little body sleeping on my chest, your wonder-filled eyes reflecting shining lights on Christmas morning, and your tiny fingers wrapped around my pinky finger, unwavering trust in my every step. You will steal my heart and I will gladly lay down my life for you.
          Your father and I will make a promise to God to do our best to raise you as a strong woman who loves the Lord and loves His people. We will teach you right from wrong, We will teach you to defend yourself, both physically and spiritually. We will teach you that you are more precious than gold, more cherished than any wealth. We will teach you that you will always have a place to lay your head next to us. We will teach you that your father and I love the Lord, and we will teach you what your marriage ought to look like. We will do our best to prepare you for what lies ahead, and when the time has come, we will try to hide our tears as you leave our home and begin your own life. We will rejoice when you rejoice, and we will cry when you cry.

          The truth is, I'm terrified to meet you. I am afraid of letting you down, and I'm even more afraid of this world hurting you. The majority of the men in this world do not love Jesus. The majority of the men in this world see you as something they'd like to have sex with, and nothing all that much more. There may be a point in your life where you will want the affirmation of these men. You may find yourself forgetting your worth and staking it all on how many compliments you receive, on whether you have a date to the homecoming dance, or on how many boys want to kiss you. My precious, precious daughter, look into the eyes of the girl staring back at you in the mirror. Look closely at the intricate details of your eyes; notice how the colors blend, how the texture reflects nature's beauty. See the magnificence that is undeniably woven into every fiber of your being.
          That beauty comes from the One who made you. The all-powerful, unchanging, everlasting God of the universe breathed you into existence in my womb. He began you, and He is sustaining you, and all of your worth is found in His glory. All the satisfaction you crave can be found in His unspeakable gift of love. When you think you want him to call you sexy, you really want Him to remind you of the beauty of being made in His image. When you think you want him to tell you that you're smart, you really want Him to assure you that He has equipped you for His plan for your life. When you think you want him to tell you that you're his world, you really want Him to remind you that He gave his everything for you.

          I hope and pray that you never forget how valuable you are. I hope and pray that every day you wake up with the intent to love the Lord more than you did yesterday. I hope and pray that you are filled with wonder at the magnificence of your existence and that not a day goes by that you are less than satisfied with what God has called his beautiful creation. I know that there is a very real possibility that this will not be the case. I know that the evils of the world will whisper in your ear when I am not around to hold you. I know that people that you trust will let you down, and I know that it's very possible that you will give your heart to a boy who only desires your touch. But hear me, dear child, when I say, with all the authority of God, that you are fearfully and wonderfully made with a purpose and a plan, and that you are loved more deeply than I could ever show you and more intensely than you could ever comprehend by the God who bends galaxies with His mind and crushes the enemy beneath his feet.