Copyright 2016 by Danielle Bean
Published by Beacon Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture passages have been taken from the Revised Standard Version, Catholic edition. Copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture texts in this work marked NAB are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Cover design: Connie Gabbert
ISBN: 978-1-942611-74-5 (hardcover)
ISBN: 978-1-942611-75-2 (softcover)
eISBN: 978-1-9426117-6-9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Bean, Danielle, author.
Title: Youre worth it! : change how you feel about yourself by discovering how Jesus feels about you / Danielle Bean.
Description: North Palm Beach, FL : Beacon Pub., 2016.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016015140 (print) | LCCN 2016016069 (ebook) | ISBN 9781942611745 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781942611752 (softcover) | ISBN 9781942611769 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Christian women--Religious life. | Self-perception in women--Religious aspects. | Self-perception--Religious aspects--Christianity.
Classification: LCC BV4527. B3925 2016 (print) | LCC BV4527 (ebook) | DDC
248.8/43--dc23
Printed in the United States of America [1]
To Jesus, whom I love in my own small
and imperfect way. I wrote this book with you
and for you, praying to touch the hearts of
those who would read it. These words are for
you. This book is for you. Your will be done.
TABLE of CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
AN INVITATION
We were only Facebook friends. Our children played many of the same sports and attended school together, so we talked sometimes in real life, but we werent close. More like acquaintances, really.
But all that changed the day I sat through a school awards assembly with her seated nearby. Her youngest child whimpered on her lap while her toddler climbed up and down the folding chairs, his shoes clanging noisily against the metal seats. I saw her face grow red as she shushed them, soothed them, and begged them to be quiet before finally cutting her losses, packing up their bags, coats, and board books, and heading to the back of the room. There she stood, balancing the baby on her hip and chasing the toddler, who repeatedly bolted for the fire exits.
When the assembly finally ended, I looked up and saw her standing nearby, looking thoroughly depleted. As I passed, I paused to give her a smile. That was a rough time, but you did great! I commented, trying to encourage her. I went to give her a quick hug and was surprised to find that she did not let go. Because she was crying so hard.
My life is falling apart, she sobbed onto my shoulder. I cant do this anymore.
SHARING OUR HEARTS
The two of us retreated to a corner, and she spilled what was on her heart. The tears werent about her childrens behavior at all. They were about a husband who was cold, distant, and obsessed with work, a car repair bill she couldnt afford to pay, her moms abnormal mammogram, and some good old-fashioned exhaustion. We talked for an hourand became friends for life.
Im so embarrassed, she texted me later. I dont usually fall apart like that.
Of course she doesnt. None of us do. Were all too busy putting on a brave face, even on the worst of days and through the hardest of times, to let any weakness show.
I am honored, I texted back, that you would share your heart with me.
I truly was. I truly am. Each time a sister or friend or even a stranger opens her heart to me, I am humbly aware of what a privilege it is to share that moment. Its not something we women take lightly.
I hate my body, a woman at the gym might want to confess.
Im afraid my boyfriend just wants sex and will never marry me, a woman in the ladies room might want to say.
My grown son is no longer talking to me, a mom in the church parking lot might want to admit.
But we dont say these things. We dont share them because we are ashamed, and they are hard to admit. Each time we let ourselves be vulnerable and share our hurts and our hearts, though, we women find out that we are not alone, and we are instantly connectedfriends and sisters forever. We dont do that often enough.
I recently hosted a large party at my house and did what was typical for me. I rushed about, doing all the important things and refusing help from anyone who offered. One of my guests stopped me as I headed toward the kitchen with a stack of dishes. Let me help you, she offered.
Oh, no! I said, grinning at her. Ive got this!
My friend held my arm to gain my attention. Let me be a friend to you, she said gently.
Oh. That. That friend thing requires honesty, vulnerability, and admitting we cant do it all alone. Its not always easy, and yet its so empowering when we do.
BEING VULNERABLE
I am working on being vulnerable, and in this book I hope to encourage you to do the same. Its only when we open ourselves up, when we share our hearts, that we can truly be known and loved. That we can truly be our best selves. That we can fully reach our potential.
And even more precious than being able to share your heart with a human friend is the possibility of friendship with Jesus. Every person reading these lines right now is loved by Jesus with a personal, infinite, irreplaceable love. He loves each of us as if there were only one of us. And he wants to be closer to us than any friend on earth could ever be.
Do you find that hard to believe? I sometimes do. We can talk about Jesus, and read about Jesus, but is he real? Does he feel real to you? Do you feel like you can know him and he can know you? Do you consider him a friendsomeone you can trust with your deepest thoughts and feelings? Someone who can change your life?
Especially if you are hurtingand so many of us are wounded in this worldJesus can feel like a nice idea, a pretty statue, or a storybook character from a long time ago, but certainly not someone we can have a real relationship with. Not someone who has relevance and matters in our lives today. But you are reading this book for a reason. Perhaps someone gave it to you, or perhaps you picked it up yourself, intrigued by an invitation to experience something life changing. We all want to feel blessed, to feel loved and cherished. We women live out our lives giving love and seeking it in return. A deep-seated need for love is why so many of us make compromises with our bodies and in our relationships. We think that if we just do the right things, and say the right things, and look the right way, at last we will be loved. We think this is the way to be fulfilled.
