I Belong

Sometimes you feel all alone.

It can happen when you are with other people,
including your family,
but you still feel on your own.

It can happen when everyone else seems to fit in,
but you just feel different.

The feeling sounds like this:

“I don’t belong here.”
“There must be something wrong with me.”
“Everyone else has a place, but I don’t.”

So you might stay quiet.
Or try to blend in.
Or change yourself a little
so you don’t stand out.

You might laugh when you don’t feel happy.
Or agree when you don’t feel sure.
Or pretend you don’t mind
even when your heart feels left out.

You might look around and wonder
how everyone else seems happy.

And you feel like you missed something
everyone else seems to have.

This can make your chest feel tight.
This can make your heart feel heavy.
It can make you feel small inside.

But here is something gentle and true.

You were never made to earn your place.
You were never meant to try and make yourself smaller
to belong.

You do not belong because you match.
You do not belong because you stand out.
You belong because you are who you are.

Nothing about you is a mistake.
Nothing about you is extra.
Nothing about you needs fixing first.

You do not have to change who you are
to be welcome.

You are already allowed here.
You are already included.
You are already held.

Right now,
you do not need to find your place.

Right now,
I am holding you.
I have always been holding you.

I am giving you My peace.

I love you, always.

Peace, be still.