Her tears streamed down her face, leaving a trail. Lies swirled in her mind.
"I'm not pretty enough."
"I'm not good enough."
"I can't do anything right."
"No one wants me."
The tears were coming faster now. She desired so much... to be pretty enough to catch the eye of the boy she liked... to be good enough to prove to her parents she didn't need to go to a special school... to accomplish something great... to be wanted, most of all.
She gazed up at her tear-streaked face and the face she thought was ugly. "I hate you," she whispered to her reflection, to herself.
Exasperated, she turned on the radio, flipping stations randomly.
"And here's Dara Maclean with her new song, 'Wanted,'" the DJ announced.
"From the day you were born
And took your first breath
You opened your eyes and in came the light
He was watching you
But all of your life you couldn't shake the lies in your head
Saying you're a mistake
Oh but you were made
By a God who knows your name
He doesn't make mistakes
You are wanted
To every broken heart, He stands with open arms
You are wanted
To every searching soul, look to the rising sun
If you're lonely, hurting, gone too far
To the outcast you come as you are
For you, you are wanted, you, you are wanted
You, you are wanted, you, you are wanted
Let this be the day that joy takes the place
Of all of the years that shame tried to steal away
He is calling you
Lift your eyes to see His face
Come run into the arms of grace
You, you have been marked
You're set apart
And He calls you His
So you don't have to search
Don't have to look for where you belong
You are wanted."
Now even more tears ran down her face, but for a different reason. Both confusion and comfort filled her mind. It was as if the song was written for her.
You are wanted.
Why? she wondered, There's nothing beautiful or good about me.
You were made by a God who knows your name. He doesn't make mistakes. The message persisted.
And then a memory stirred. Of a warm smile. "You are beautiful."
She didn't know who had said the words, but she knew that they were true. She smiled at her reflection now, watching as the smile lit up her face into a beautiful array of features.
Thank you, God.
The truth sunk in: she was wanted.
And so are you.