the bachelorette (season 16; episode 1)

     a few weeks ago some women and i watched the first episode of this season’s The Bachelorette. back home i never watched it consistently but i  had some friends who did. during and after every episode i heard the comments, i saw peoples insta stories, i read some articles. most of them were something like 

“wow she’s so annoying”

“omg he’s so hot” 

“i wanna watch them fight!”

“they’re all so stupid to be doing this”

and if you spoke to me 2 1/2 months ago i would’ve agreed with you. in fact, i probably would’ve joined in on the bashing and degrading of these people. 

now you might be asking “marissa, why do you care about characters on a reality show?” 

i care because God cares too. sure i might not know any of these people, their life stories, their motives, success’, failures, deepest secrets or their mommas middle name, but what i do know is that they are

 l o v e d. 

i know that Clare is loved by the creator of the universe. i know that Dale was worth dying for. i know that Chris Harrison’s heart is cared for deeply. 

during the show Clare got upset and was hurt. it was hard for all of us to watch because we knew that she is SO loved by Jesus Christ. He desires to comfort her and strengthen her and be the protector of her heart. dang that woman is lovedddd. 

and the men too, even the ones that hurt her, the ones that cheated, the ones that made her cry, the ones who weren’t there for society’s standards of “the right reasons”. 

yeah even them. they’re loved too. 

all in all i was really humbled to be able to watch these people and not tear them down or make fun of them, but call out the good. something i’ve been learning lately is that 

broken people break people 

chained people chain people. 

freed people free people. 

loved people love people. 

so i encourage you friend, that next time we watch our fav reality show, or click on the next social media post or talk to someone outside of your church, 

call out their worth. 

they might never hear it but someone will and they’ll call it out too. 

seek to love people right where they’re at. 

desire to realign their hearts with the creator of it.

remind people that they are loved.  

 this is what we’re called to do.  

also shoutout to some women (Kayla, Lydia, Graceyn, Abby & Ricky) for keeping me accountable when we watched it and reminding me to love people first!