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Have you ever looked in the mirror and didn’t like what you saw? Maybe you felt like a “failure,” or that you were “weak.” I didn’t feel like I was strong enough because I was the youngest in my grade. I strived to make myself stronger by working out, but I kept tearing myself down because I was doing it for other people and not for myself. I kept repeating, “You aren’t good enough” to myself. At the same time, God was trying to get my attention to say, “You are more than enough!”

This verse says that kind words are sweet for the soul. They can make people feel better about themselves. But not just other people! Are we using kind words to ourselves too? One of the most important things to me is being kind to myself because, without it, I would not be able to cheer others up and continue to praise God. Being kind to others starts with being kind to yourself first. Using kind words can change everything for us.

Today, find a mirror or pull up the front-facing camera on your phone. As you look at yourself, practice being kind to yourself by encouraging yourself out loud. You might say, “I am enough,” or “I was made by God on purpose,” or “I am strong!”

Written by Quintin, age 15, from Bowling Green, Indiana, USA