I realized recently that I am terrible at taking care of plants.

I’ve received a handful of plants the last few months, and I’ve accidentally killed all of them. I even killed a succulent. I hear you have to really try to kill a succulent, so that’s… wonderful for me.

I would love to keep plants and flowers in my house, but I was not given the gift of a green thumb, much to my dismay.

One thing I have learned in the short time I had living plants is that you have to be intentional with giving them the attention and care they require. My mistake was forgetting they exist until it was too late, but they would probably still be with us if they were tended to like they should have been. If you don’t water a plant, it dies. If you don’t give a plant enough sun, it dies. The environment needs to be near perfect for a plant to thrive. If it doesn’t get that, it dies.

So, my question is, have you been giving yourself the attention and care you require?

It’s easy to forget about our own needs when we get busy, when life gets hard, or when we prioritize other people above ourselves. The key is to give yourself the room to thrive; you can’t grow in cramped spaces or in the presence of people that bring you down. Give yourself the water, the sunlight, and the love you deserve. The same goes for any relationship, romantic or otherwise, you may find yourself in. Even relationships that are near perfect force you to grow and change. Your eyes and heart open to someone new and their unique soul. You experience their way of life, morals, and how they see the world. You have to find the space and the intention to let the relationship and connection blossom. Give it a fighting chance.

For example, a few months back, I started dating someone new. It’s going amazingly, but we have also hit some potholes in the road. I’ve realized there is a lot of growing involved even when things are generally good. Sometimes we don’t see eye to eye and someone’s feelings get hurt. We have to communicate and find the problem for us to move on and become stronger. Sometimes, it’s hard to understand where they are coming from in times of struggle and miscommunication. Yet, this is our chance to grow and learn how to see things the way they do. We don’t always have to agree, but showing acceptance and understanding goes a long way. Even though our relationship is beautiful, that does not mean it’s without its dead leaves. Just like any relationship, or any plant, beautiful things need support and attention to grow.

This was a very word vomit-y way to say that it’s okay to need space to grow, and you need to allow yourself to do that. Having needs and big emotions doesn’t make you difficult or hard to love. You are more than enough, and part of loving yourself is taking care of you first. Be bold in your own confidence and don’t be afraid of change. Your growth is a symbol of your strength. Take care of yourself how you would a plant: with care and love.

SOTP: “Jireh” by Elevation Worship and Maverick City! This song has been on repeat recently, and it serves as a wonderful reminder that we are always more than enough in the eyes of God. We are all wanted and loved by Him, and that is all the reassurance we will ever need.

You are enough, so I am enough.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:14