Last week I stumbled through a service, and by the end of it, I was unsettled. I preached on how, no matter how we see ourselves, Jesus sees us and loves us. Practice what you preach, Denise! 

For the rest of Sunday, I silently berated myself. I regularly lose track of where I am in the service (next week we’re color coding my bulletin). I get tired of messing up. What happens is I read ahead, and then I forget where I was. I laugh about it, but it is important to me that I give you the best service possible each week. Here’s the thing, there are days where I still don’t feel as though l’ve earned the pulpit. Most days I wish I could do more. That’s okay, it is good to stretch yourself and open your heart to new learnings. It is not okay, however, to not listen to your own sermon!

So, I am sitting here on Monday, after an 11 hour Sunday (Jane, Jenn, Andrea and many Sheldons organized a big Halloween party, and we had a ton of kids), and I am going to be kind to myself. This is a new day, and God has given it to me so I will cherish it. Do the same for yourself today. Rise knowing you will not be perfect, and that God understands. Rise, knowing you will have good days and not so good. Rise and embrace the life that God has given you, because it is brief and it should not be wasted.

I am so happy to be here, in this sacred relationship with all of you. I promise to continue to strive to be better, but not to beat up on myself if I flub a prayer or mess up the order of worship. You do the same, be kind to yourselves, and know that you are loved, even when you don’t particularly love yourself. 

Since it is much easier to love others than it is to love yourself, try harder. You’re worth it, and so am I. Practice may not make perfect, but it helps.

Love, Denise