Love is a Battlefield

This post comes from a dear friend, and fellow Young Life leader, Lily Fairman. She blogs over here at Love Unscripted. Which, in her words, is "An account of what God does in the life of a sinner, a student, a morning person, a talker, an extrovert, a note-writer, a Chinese-speaker, a swimmer, a doer, a seeker, a BigMac eater, a coffee drinker, a loyal friend, a sister, a messy roommate, a world traveler, a homeschooler, a YoungLife leader, a foodie, an Instagram addict, an optimist, a believer."

I read this one and immediately wanted to share it. You will probably see more of her on here, because she has lots to say. Lily is an amazing woman of God, with a beautiful story, and an adventurous life. I'm so blessed to be in ministry with her, and blessed with the opportunity to do life with her. 

Love is a Battlefield

I named this blog love unscripted because my dear friend and I thought it perfectly captured our view of love.  

Love flows like a river without boundaries, direction, or limitations.  It is a rhythm, a pattern of love set into motion by God. We need this flavor of love in our lives.

This love we need is often contrary to the love we are told to take.

We need the insane kind of unscripted love that abounds from the doors of God’s heart. But we are told to hold onto “man-made” love. Love that is altogether predictable and ordinary. 

This post is a battle-cry, an attempt at encouragement, to the women wounded by “man-made” love.

Dear sisters, 

I have watched you surrender to a version of love that abuses your heart. The sparks in your eyes are fading. I see you are weary from the challenges of love.  

Take courage and keep fighting, because you are not alone.

Do not let the world take away your tutus. Wear them proudly, dance, and embrace the wild whimsy God has given you. Let yourself experience the love you were created to exist in. 

I beg you to be stubborn. Refuse to listen to the tempting whispers of the lonely, the desperate, the selfish, and the weary. 

You are beautiful, be brave and allow yourself to feel beautiful. 

Take pride in your va-va-voom and shake those tail feathers. You are a girl, a woman, a daughter, a lady, a princess.

 Be you and just you. 

You have earned the right to love and be loved simply by existing. 

Do not accept the love you think you deserve. Because love is not deserved, love is given.  

God’s love is waiting, 

Accept it.  

   

Lily, center, rocking a tutu with some high school girls