I’d like to first point out before I begin, that my World Race is not just about me and my journey, not by a longshot. It’s about saying yes, not just to nine months of ministry, but to wherever and whenever God calls me. My World Race is about God’s people. However God calls you to serve or get involved, I encourage you. This is about His kingdom and this is the platform he has given me.
First off, men and women were never created to be inferior or superior one way or the other. Men and women were created differently. However, we are each a small piece of the human race. There is a balance that must be maintained in any area of life, and so there is a balance that must be maintained between men and women.
The point I need to get across before I truly begin, is the fact that you will never meet someone who isn’t loved by God. Man or woman. Do not let this fact be missed in this message: We are all created to be respected and valued.
One of my very favorite people has an incredible knack for standing up for her sisters. My dear Audrey. Audrey is by a long shot, one of the strongest women I know. She is a friend who stands up for people. If you’re close to her heart, you had better be ready to be defended like never before, even and ESPECIALLY when you aren’t there to do it yourself. She is a fighter and she has pushed me to be a better person for the entirety of our friendship. Girlfriend is beautiful. Powerful. She is authentic. She’s different in all the best ways.
Something Audrey has always reminded me of, and held me accountable for, is the fact that a boy’s opinion of me does not change my worth. It does not change who I am. That is something I believe every girl struggles with to some extent. It’s real and it’s difficult. It’s not something males as a whole should necessarily be blamed for, I mean sure, if a guy is knowingly treating a girl as if they’re unworthy in any way or regarding them as if they don’t matter, then they should be held accountable. And girls should most definitely be held accountable if they do the same.
We are all human and we are all broken.
The point of the message I’m sending here is, I thought it would be a shame to go through with my World Race journey without giving credit where it is due. Of course it is Jesus who puts these people into my life and gives them the courage to be who they are, and for this I am eternally grateful. But the roles God creates do take stepping into. Today’s credit goes to my Audrey.
This girl builds me up and I seriously believe that is the difference between a girl and a woman. She is intentional, she pursues me even when she doesn’t agree with certain opinions I may have. This girl takes the time to know me and love the emotional mess that I am.
“Girls can rival each other, but real women revive each other, girls can impale each other, but real women empower each other. Girls can compare each other, but real women champion each other, and we are all created to be ground breakers and peace makers and freedom shakers.”
— A quote by Propel Women
I aspire to be like Audrey in this way. To remind EVERYONE, sons and daughters and all, that nobody determines our worth besides Jesus. And He’s already died to know you.
Unconditional love is so real. There really are people that will fight for you. I also want to encourage you to be that person. That friend.
The one who pursues their people and loves them through everything, no matter how messy things get. Be the person who has difficult conversations simply because they need to be had. Lord knows it was Jesus walking around having the most difficult of conversations with people He loved so very fiercely while doing it.
We were handcrafted for more than anxiety and toxic excuses for love.
We were handcrafted to love like Jesus and to be loved like Jesus loves.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.”
(Proverbs 31:25-26 NLT)
For Audrey with love,
Landry<3
