My sister,

On July 18, 1013, an artist, Jon Jorgeenson uploaded a video “Who you are: A message to all women.” to his YouTube channel that has gotten over 5 million views. In an ironic artistic style, he walked onto an empty stage and began his video with a simple but heartfelt, “you are beautiful.” He continues to describe all these wonderful qualities that we wish we actually possessed, such as being smart, kind, and funny. He declares that you are never too much. He promised that you are the most stunning of all God’s creation. But if you’re anything like me, you probably hear all these beautiful things and don’t believe they are about you.

The first time I saw this video I was convinced this video was meant for somebody else. There was some other woman out there that Jon was talking too. I’ve probably watched this video a hundred times and each time I have to convince myself that this video is about me too. That I am the rose or the pearl that he described, and so are you.

My sister, we live in a world full of pain, full of lies, and unfortunately, no matter how much pain you have already experienced, there is more bound to come. But we also live in a world full of beauty, and part of that beauty is you. God created you for a specific purpose. Exodus 9:16 says “ But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” I know the world hurts. But you are here for a reason. And you are here to do beautiful things.

Jon goes on to say how we are worth so much more than earthy things that we hold dear. You are more than numbers, more than popularity, more than a combination of hair products and designer clothes, because you weren’t placed here to be apart of the world but to change it. My beautiful sister, I don’t care who you are, where you’ve come from or what you’ve done, you are capable of changing the world, because as Jon puts it “you are loved. And YOU are worth dying for.”

My sister, please don’t let the evils and pain of this world convince you any differently. So yes my sister. You are beautiful, powerful, smart, kind, funny, and so many more things. But more than that, you are loved.