BluEyes BluEyes

[blueyesblueyes]

How could you do that?

You know when you’re talking to someone and they’re like I do this messed up thing and I’m okay with it? And you’re just like, how could you be okay with that? That’s terrible! 

But think about it. I do terrible things all the time. And what’s worse, I know what I’m doing is wrong. And I still do it. And I forgive myself. I love myself.

So, I can love you. 

[blueyesblueyes]

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.

1 John 5:16

[blueyesblueyes]

In this world, there is so much of what looks like love, and sounds like love, and calls itself love, but it isn't. It's just people saying and doing what they think they ought to say and do.

Unknown

[blueyesblueyes]

The first love of my life never saw me naked - there was always a parent coming home in half an hour - always a little brother in the next room. Always too much body and not enough time for me to show it. Instead, I gave him my shoulder, my elbow, the bend of my knee - I lent him my corners, my edges, the parts of me I could afford to offer - the parts I had long since given up trying to hide. He never asked for more. He gave me back his eyelashes, the back of his neck, his palms - we held each piece we were given like it was a nectarine that could bruise if we weren't careful. We collected them like we were trying to build an orchid. And the spaces that he never saw, the ones my parents half labeled "private parts" when I was still small enough to fit all of myself and my worries inside a bathtub - I made up for that by handing over all the private parts of me. There was no secret I didn't tell him, there was no moment I didn't share - and we didn't grow up, we grew in, like ivy wrapping, moulding each other into perfect yings and yangs. We kissed with mouths open, breathing his exhale into my inhale - we could have survived underwater or outer space. Breathing only of the breathe we traded, we spelled love g-i-v-e, I never wanted to hide my body from him - if I could have I would have given it all away with the rest of me - I did not know it was possible. To save something for myself. Some nights I wake up knowing his is envious, he is across the world in another woman's arms - the years have spread us like dandelion seeds - sanding down the edges of our jigsaw parts that used to fit each other. He drinks from the pitcher on the night stand, checks the digital clock, it is 5am - he tosses in sheets and tries to settle, I wait for him to sleep. Before tucking myself into elbows and knees reach for things I have long since given up.

Sarah Kay (Private Parts)

[blueyesblueyes]

Why should I tarry? In destinies sad or merry, true men can but try.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

[blueyesblueyes]

If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will.

Abraham Lincoln

[blueyesblueyes]

Use what talents you possess. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.

Henry van Dyke

[la-quaintrelle]

[blueyesblueyes]

Caravaggio - Nariciso (1600)

la-quaintrelle

[blueyesblueyes]

Forgiveness is setting a prisoner free and finding out that the person was you.

-Lewis B. Smedes

[blueyesblueyes]

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.

-Audrey Hepburn

[blueyesblueyes]

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.

-C.S. Lewis

[blueyesblueyes]

I'm not afraid, at least not to die. I'm afraid to live and not remember why.

-Lapse (Envy on the Coast)

[blueyesblueyes]

The end of the world will be no concern for the people who live.

-Unknown

[blueyesblueyes]

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

-Pslam 23

[blueyesblueyes]

And Jesus said unto them, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.

-Romans 1:17

[blueyesblueyes]

The science of loving, yes, that's the only kind of science I want. I'd barter away everything I possess to win it.

-St. Therese of Lisieux

[blueyesblueyes]

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

-1 Peter 4:8-9