During my high school years, I longed to be liked, to be part of the “in crowd.” Each summer, I would resolve to reinvent myself for the upcoming school year, convinced that I could finally become one of the popular kids.
However, deviating from our true selves is easier said than done. Despite my efforts to project a carefree and easygoing persona, it never quite fit. I simply couldn't sustain the façade.
We all crave love and acceptance, often concealing our shame and insecurities behind snapshots and layers of pretense. We buy into the lie that we can remake ourselves into someone who will be accepted by others.
But what if I truly believed that God loves and accepts me as I am? What if I embraced myself just as I am? By doing so, I am free to be the person He created me to be.
Birds have long symbolized freedom, hope, spirit, transition, and new opportunities, primarily due to their ability to fly and be “free.” Just as birds soar gracefully through the skies, they remind us of God’s loving care and guidance in our lives.
I chose to paint a series of birds to represent my newfound freedom—freedom from seeking others’ approval and the acceptance that I can be loved for who I am.
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