Finding Christ in Christmas.

I pondered in the stillness, cuddled on the cushions of my white couch. It was late October and Christmas felt just around the corner. This year I determined to keep Christmas centered on Christ. As I gazed out the window, I briefly recalled Christmases past....

I remember the Christmas when I spent dozens of hours creating two twin quilts for my toddler boys. It started as an act of love, but as the days turned into weeks, and my boys watched movies while I painstakingly picked out stitches, measured endless yards of fabric, and hummed that little sewing machine for all it was worth, I realized how very much I disliked sewing and how very much time I was not spending playing with my little boys. It broke my heart and I vowed to never repeat that season.

Another Christmas, guilt consumed me because with all the festive traditions of cookie-making, light-seeing, gift-giving, and Christmas-caroling, I couldn't keep up. I thought I should do all of these amazing traditions and I over-packed our days like a too-small gift box. Most of the well-intentioned activities I had planned fell by the wayside. I felt like a failure, and I promised myself that a too-busy Christmas wouldn't happen again.

Last Christmas I felt stirrings in my heart to make the season memorable and joyful. But discouragement and discontent crept into the corners of my heart and all I could think about was how my walls were the wrong color, my decor wasn't fitting, and how my house didn't feel like home. This was the worst Christmas of all.

But this year, I vowed, this year would be different. Despite our crazy autumn packed to the brim, Christmas glimmered off in the distant December with a promise of hope.

To read the rest of my post and discover how I am intentionally creating more joy & peace in our Christmas, take a stroll over to Simply For Real, where I am guest posting today. 

A "Less is More" Christmas

Today, on this lovely Monday morning, I have the special privilege of introducing Lynnette Sheppard who has kindly agreed to guest post here at Writing in the Stillness. 

Lynnette Sheppard lives in Arizona with her husband and five children. She loves chocolate, sunshine, trying new recipes, and curling up with a good book. She encourages others to live authentic, intentional lives that are grounded in roots of faith and simplicity on her blog, Simply for Real. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

How a “Less is More” Christmas Can Joyfully Transform the Holidays

I come from a family where Christmas was a huge production. The grand finale featured a mountain of presents that sometimes reached almost halfway up the tree. As a child, I looked forward to it all year long.

I cannot deny that the magic was real for me back then. I could not wait to sneak out before Mom and Dad woke up on Christmas morning and attempt to count the number of gifts that had my name on them. That was usually an exercise in futility because there were so many brightly wrapped packages arranged around the majestic tree, but that did not stop me from trying.

There were many years where money was tight, but that did not necessarily result in fewer presents. It only meant that thrift and creativity was used in the acquisition of that enchanting mountain. It was the one time during the year when we were rather spoiled.

I remember feeling sorry for my friend one year because she only got one gift when I could not even name everything that I got without looking at the stash. I was sure that she was deprived of the Christmas magic that I had grown to love. For me, that magic consisted of stuff…and lots of it.

However, I also remember that, despite the amount of time, thought, effort, creativity, and money that my parents invested in order to make Christmas big and memorable, it seemed like there was always somebody unhappy after all of the gifts were opened because they did not get what they wanted. I felt bad for my parents when that happened, but I brushed those feelings aside when I looked at my own stack of gifts.

Many years later, when I had young children of my own, my husband and I decided that we no longer wanted to carry on the tradition of big Christmases. While we loved it as children, as adults we did not enjoy the frenzied shopping, endless wrapping, and staying up late on Christmas Eve to make sure that everything was perfect.

But, more than that, we did not enjoy watching our kids open one gift, look at if for a moment, and then toss it aside like it was no big deal while they waited for us to hand them something else. We wanted them to be grateful for what they received, and we knew of no better way to teach them that than to give them less.

From that point on, we told the kids (the oldest of which was eight at the time) that they would only receive one present from Santa and one present from Mom and Dad. That was in addition to a pair of new Christmas PJ’s, one new book each, and one gift from the family member who drew their name out of hat. The pile of gifts under the tree on Christmas morning became significantly smaller, and that was a beautiful thing.

The best part, however, was that the beauty extended beyond the number of presents. Not only did I feel like the kids started to appreciate their gifts a whole lot more, but we all began to enjoy the events of season more than we had in the past. Fewer gifts translated into fewer hours spent shopping and agonizing about whether we had enough. It meant that we spent much less time wrapping, and late nights on Christmas Eve with a roll of wrapping paper and tape in hand were only a memory. It meant that we worried less about how we were going to hide everything in order to keep little eyes from seeing their surprises before Christmas morning. At the end of the day, less time spent in the pursuit of stuff resulted in considerably less worry and stress surrounding the holidays.

Although the month of December will never be void of busyness, especially now that our kids are older and have their own busy schedules, our deliberate decision to simplify our gift giving has really simplified our whole approach to the holidays. It has indirectly created more time and energy to do the things that we love: watching Christmas movies, reading Christmas stories, attending concerts and plays, enjoying the magnificent lights and sounds, cooking, eating, spending time with friends and family, and focusing on the birth of Christ, which is, after all, the real reason for the season.

Because it has made a huge difference in our family, I wholeheartedly recommend a minimalist approach to Christmas for anyone who tends to feel more overwhelmed than joyful at this time of year. Less is truly more: more gratitude, more energy, more joy, and more time to focus on what matters most.

Seeking Peace.

There are just over two weeks until Christmas and all I can think about is writing "peace."

But how can I even think about writing peace when I can hardly find it amidst the afternoon chaos? Coats and backpacks are all entangled and littered on the ground, accompanied with corrected homework sheets, school newsletters and the like spread out over counter, table, and couch. I see markers under the table and coloring pages lying in piles on shelves. Everywhere I look there are paper airplanes and half-finished origami creations resting like tufts of snow. Everyone needs me at once so I can listen to their read-aloud books and sight word sheets and help with story pre-writing. Where in all of this can peace be found?

We stumble along, getting everything sorted, but after an hour I can feel my patience growing thin and I know I need to escape for just a bit. It doesn't seem practical when there's so much to be done, but it might just be life-giving. 

So with the remnants of clutter tossed, and most of the homework tucked away, the little ones go upstairs to rest with a short movie and I retreat to my bedroom. 

I fall onto my bed and let my eyes close. I take a moment to just breathe. 

I breathe in gratitude for my oldest boy who is so responsible and talented. 

I breathe out all the anxiety. 

I breathe in love for my firecracker princess and breathe out overwhelm. 

I breathe in thanks for my middle son's easygoing nature and breathe out the noisy chaos. 

I breathe in appreciation for my home with its simple white decor and vintage charm.
I breathe out any lingering unhappiness. 

I breathe in pure awe and gratitude for my Savior, Jesus Christ, whose spirit fills my home and the deepest corners of my heart.
I breathe out all remnants of distress. 

It's okay to let everything go. It's okay to give your day to the Redeemer so He can redeem you from burdened to blessed. 

And I realize this: Peace is never far away when you realize your peace comes from Christ. 

When the movie is over and my respite is ended, I return to my family with smiling eyes and a peaceful heart. I resolve anew to take a small break of spiritual whitespace on a regular basis to restore my center--my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I also commit to remembering that this peaceful center, this hub of the wheel that can only be found in Christ, can be a resting place even when I can't retreat. If I rest my heart on Him, His peace can be found even in the midst of a struggle. When the afternoon becomes an avalanche, I will draw upon my center, my firm foundation in Christ. Therein I will find everlasting peace.

So go to Him in the quiet moments and in the busy ones too. Breathe in His peace as you tuck little ones in, or peel carrots for the soup, or referee the endless quarrels. Breathe in His peace at any moment, at any time. And let His peace wrap your heart in wonder...

{I'm linking up to #onewordadvent over at Bonnie Gray's blog. I was beyond thrilled to create this week's hand-lettered badge for her link-up!}

Day 31: My Always

Can I just sincerely thank you for following along with me throughout this journey of Hand-Lettered Prints? I have so enjoyed creating these each day and offering them in my shop. I truly believe that words can change the world. And they can change our homes too. As we display inspiring words throughout our homes, and read them whenever we pass I believe it invites the Spirit to be more present in our homes and in our hearts.

As a thank you for participating in this journey with me, I am doing a giveaway for a free 8x10 of any print in my shop (excluding custom orders). To view my prints in my shop, click here. To enter, follow me on Instagram @writinginthestillness and leave a comment there with the print you would choose if you won.

May your day be filled with joy, my friends.

XOXO,
Jamie

Day 30: Tune My Heart

If you have a chance today, listen to Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. It's one of my favorite songs. Patrick and I were privileged to sing in the choir during my graduation commencement ceremonies. We sang this song. The lyrics are so powerful and perfect that nothing I could write would add any value. So I will simply quote the lyrics below:

Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace.

Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above;

Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I come,

And I hope by thy good pleasure safely to arrive at home.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.

Jesus sought me when a stranger wandering from the fold of God.

He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.

O to grace, how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be!

Let thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.

Seal it for thy courts above.

May our hearts ever be tuned to sing His everlasting grace.

Day 29: Life Moments

We visited my Gram and Pop this past weekend and so I brought along my hand-lettering supplies to create prints. As I was drawing, Pop brought out his notebooks where he has recorded hundreds of quotes, poems, and thoughts. He read me a few and I fell in love with this one instantly (along with others that I will be hand-lettering in the future).

Thank you for teaching me this, sweet Pop. And thank you for sharing thousands of moments with me and my family. We will treasure them always.

Day 28: Flowers on my Table

This is so true of me. No diamond could outshine the beauty of real, live, fragrant flowers on my table. It's why I want lots of flower gardens--and especially a cutting garden--so I can harvest the blooms to bring indoors. I love to grace my table with flowers.

It's the little things in life that bring the most joy.

Day 27: I'll Love You Forever

Do you know this book? It was one of my very favorites growing up. I'll never forget the sound of my mother's voice as she read it to us.

And now I read it to my own children and feel so blessed. These children we have been given are truly the greatest treasures.

Traditions bind the generations together.

Do you have a sweet and simple memory you are making a tradition with your own children?

Day 26: The Reward

So often we want to get to a desired destination to reach happiness. But, truth be told, we will never reach that "perfect" destination. There will always be something just over the next horizon for us to pursue. The trick is to enjoy the now and find happiness in the present. And this little quote helps me visualize just exactly how to do that.

Life is a journey, my friends. And how blessed we are to be on this journey. Stay present.

Let the journey itself be your reward.

{Find this print in my shop by clicking here.}

Day 25: Give Thanks

It's about this time of year, when autumn is in full swing and we realize Thanksgiving is just around the bend that our thoughts start turning toward gratitude.

An attitude of gratitude--we've all been schooled in this positive way to frame our thoughts. We know all the answers backwards and forwards, inside and out. But has this practice of giving thanks really, truly penetrated our hearts?

The practice of gratitude is often on my mind. Maybe it's because I'm still not very good at it even after all these years of practice. Do you need some fresh perspectives on how to practice an attitude of gratitude?

In this post I wrote last year called "The Thanks Giving Project," I suggested a way we can train our minds to tread the positive path.

Another post I wrote called "The Stained Glass Window" suggests 5 ways we can practice daily gratitude and experience the warm glow through life's stained glass window.

This year, I want to challenge myself {and all of you} to try another practice--in everything giving thanks. In order to step to a higher level in our eternal progression, it would serve us well to eliminate complaining and whining and pessimism.

Give Thanks in Everything. Even when your children are misbehaving. Even when you have a bad hair day. Even when you're late for church or a meeting or work. Even when you're sick. Even when rainstorms ruin your party. Even when life is unfair. Even when you lose your job, or your car, or your home, or money, or even a family member. Even when everything seems to be going wrong--give thanks.

You see, sometimes, the very things that seem so terrible will ultimately work for our highest good. Because it is in these desperate times that we become molded and refined and smoothed into exactly who God wants us to be. There is not one single experience we pass through that will not be for our ultimate good, of this we can be sure. Heavenly Father loves us. He is there for us. And He wants us to return to Him.

In everything give thanks.

It's a steep challenge, to be sure. But the result will turn us into something so magnificent, so humble, so Christlike.

Will you come with me on this path towards Thanksliving? Let's take the next step and see where it leads.

Day 24: Do What You Love

What do you love to do? Have you ever made a list? If not, stop what you're doing and go make one this moment. If you have children at home, let them make a list too.

Now hang up your list where you will see it often.

Life is too short to spend too much time doing unbearable things.

It's Saturday...so it's time to do something you love. Pick just one thing on your list (or two or three) and do it today. No ifs, ands, or buts.

See what a difference it makes in your day.

Now, repeat. Every day. As often as you can. If you do this, you will look back on your days at the end of your life and see the beautiful life you created.

xoxoxo,

Jamie

{To view this print in my shop click here.}

Day 23: Never Grow Up

Fridays=family time and so on this Friday, I can't help but think of my sweet family and all that they mean to me. I have three children ages 8, almost 7, and almost 4. Truly, they are a bundle of delight. I don't know how I got so lucky to receive these three special gifts from my Father in Heaven. Their personalities amaze me and their valiance leaves me in awe.

But I have a problem. You see, no matter how hard I try, they keep growing up.

The change is almost imperceptible in the days, but when you look back at a picture or video from even just a year ago, the change is drastic. I hardly notice it happening, but it happens in the blink of an eye.

My mother used to give me "stay-little pills" and I just recently heard from my Grandfather that he used to give my mother "stay-little pills." Apparently, they don't work, because I keep trying them on my own children to no avail.

In my mind, I know they need to grow up and experience all the beauty that life has to offer. I want them to have all the joy I have. But still my heart cries out, "Please, just never grow up!"

With each passing day, they bring me more and more joy. Their personalities are emerging and blossoming in such delightful ways. Every year brings me blessings unimaginable. So naturally, I love to see them grow up and learn new things and become this wonderfully unique and capable little human being. But at the very same time, I want to cradle their faces in my hands and freeze time just exactly as it is now. {Don't even get me started on the heart-wrenching feelings that emerge when I look at their little toddler pictures...}

Oh this growing up business is not for the faint of heart. It's ever so bittersweet as a mother.

Maybe tomorrow, sweet children, you can grow older...but not today.

Stay little...just for today...



{To view this print in my shop click here.}

Day 22: Moments

Do you have a collection? I collected many things growing up--stamps, teddy bears, dalmatians, bookmarks, and tea pots to name a few. I was a collector.

I still am. But my main collection now is that of memories. I love the moments that make up my cherished memories. I collect moments through photos, journaling, writing, and video recording. And my favorite moments to collect are family memories.

I kept a family blog from 2008-2015 and now I have a special print instagram account for family memories. These I print into books so I can always treasure the words and photos from our family's memories.

My other favorite thing to do is record my children on video. I record the big moments and the small moments and those in-between. Then in the fall time I pull out all the recordings and make one short movie for every month that recaps our memories through video and music. On New Year's I give them to my family and we curl up together to watch them.

Material things get old, break, become outdated. But moments? They are priceless. They're worth more than all the money in the world.

Truly, memories, and the moments from which they are made, will live on forever.

How do you collect moments? Please comment below...

{And to view this print in my shop click here.}

Day 21: Come What May

{To view this print in my etsy shop, click here}

Elder Wirthlin gave a monumental talk in October 2008. It's one of those talks that you never forget. The main message of his talk exhorted us to endure adversity well. The short video below shares the advice of Elder Wirthlin's mother to "Come What May and Love It."



My favorite quote from his discourse:

"The simple secret is this: put your trust in the Lord, do your best, then leave the rest to Him."  ~Elder Wirthlin

Day 20: Speak Love

One of the most beautiful hymns from the Children's Songbook is "Love is Spoken Here." The lyrics are so timeless and empowering. They have become a motto for me--a vision of what I want our home to look and feel like:

I see my other kneeling with our family each day.
I hear the words she whispers as she bows her head to pray.
Her plea to the Father quiets all my fears,
And I am thankful love is spoken here.

Mine is a home where every hour is blessed by the strength of priesthood power,
With father and mother leading the way
Teaching me how to trust and obey;
And the things they teach our crystal clear,
For love is spoken here.

I can often feel the Savior near
When love is spoken here.

(words and music by Janice Kapp Perry)


We all make mistakes and there are times when the words in our homes are not very loving or kind. But I believe with all my heart that one person can make a difference. One mother, one father, or one child can change the very atmosphere of the home by committing to this practice of speaking love. How would your home feel if you were the one who made that difference? How would your love ripple outwards, lifting the attitude and actions of all present in your home?

Might you commit to try for just one day to only speak love?

Our homes can become the heavens on earth as we embrace this practice with all our hearts.


{To view this print in my shop, click here}

Day 19: Look

All the Israelites had to do was look to the brazen serpent to be healed and live. But because of the simplicity of the way, so many would not look, but chose to perish instead. Why wouldn't they look? we wonder to ourselves. It was so simple, so easy.

But how often do we do the same? The scriptures filled with the healing word of God wait for us on dusty shelves. But do we pick them up? Our church meetings, and especially the sacrament offer forgiveness, refreshment and nourishment to our parched souls. But do we go? And if we do, do we bring a softened, open heart? The great God of the universe, our very Eternal Father in Heaven waits patiently for us to commune with Him in prayer for all the things we need, but do we come?

Abundant life is freely offered to us at any and every moment of the day. All we must do is look.

Look to God and live.

Will you?

Day 18: His Child

This simple phrase is the basis and foundation of my life. It transcends all things of this earth and grants me overwhelming peace. 

To think that we are the children of the great Creator of the Universe is incredibly humbling and awe-inspiring. 

I believe we can let this simple, divine truth settle so deeply into our hearts that it actually softens our hearts and makes us more like Him. If we could grasp onto this thought and let it guide our daily actions, think of the love and grace we could extend to those in our circle of influence. Think of the difference we could make. 

You are a child of God.

I am a child of God.

Let this truth change you and mold you into the Divine royalty you have always been destined to become... 

Day 17: Fly

Life is full of possibility. Endless opportunities await us. When our hearts call us to action, all that is required is a simple "yes." But more often than not, great opportunities are accompanied with a certain degree of risk. We argue with ourselves. Should we stay where we are, comfortable in our little space of familiarity...or should we reach for the stars?

Of course you might fail. But what if you fly?

Is it worth the risk? No one wants to fail. But what you must remember is that no one ever truly fails. Every failure is a blessing in disguise. The lessons we learn will only add to the gleam in our character. Besides, this failure may lead to an entirely different dream altogether.

So trust your heart.

Say yes.

Either way you'll fly.

{To view this print in my shop, click here}

Day 16: A Beautiful Ride

Life really is a beautiful ride, isn't it? If you're anything like me, you wake up every morning with overwhelming stress, mountains of laundry and a to-do list as long as the Amazon, but when you really stop and think about it, aren't we just so blessed to be alive? You are gifted 24 hours every single day--what will you do with those few precious hours? We can use them to rush around as busy crazies, or we can s l o w  d o w n and savor each precious moment for exactly what it is--a gift. Ride along today at a slower than usual pace. See if you can truly relish the beautiful ride. Happy Friday my sweet, sweet friends. Thank you for sharing this space with me. I hope your weekend turns into the most lovely, meaningful gift for you!

{To view this print in my shop, click here}

Day 15: Remember

Throughout the scriptures we are encouraged to "remember." I would encourage you to do a study on this beautiful word and find it sprinkled throughout the beautiful scripture accounts. 

It is good for the soul to remember. Remember your blessings. Remember your hardships and how the Lord never left your side, and ultimately delivered you. Remember His power and miracles. Remember His love. Remember Him. 

It's a beautiful thing, this remembering. It takes a tired, worn-out day and makes it feel brand new. 

How has remembering blessed your life?

Day 14: Be Still

Stillness is so good for our souls. It is in the stillness that we can feel the comfort, the peace, and the love of our Heavenly Father. All we have to do is quiet our minds and hearts.

Today I encourage you to pause whatever you are doing right in this very minute--and choose to be still. Take a few, long deep breaths, and in this sweet moment of stillness, feel the presence of the Spirit. Remember the mercy, grace, and love of the Lord towards you, and choose to trust Him with your life, your heart and your dreams. He cares about you so much.

It is in the stillness that we can most readily find Him--waiting for us to come unto Him.

{To view this print in my shop, click here}

Day 13: Beautiful Destination

What is your destination? If you have a great vision of where you want to be in life, then hold fast to that dream even if your road today feels rough. Keep your dreams ever before your eyes and savor the little moments along the way. It will all be worth it in the end. 

Sometimes dreams are easily chosen, but other times they're more elusive. If life finds you traversing a difficult road without a specific "dream," take heart. Keep walking the path. Stay close the Lord and He will guide you just where you need to be. You see, sometimes dreams come true that we never even knew would be possible. Your next destination may be a beautiful surprise.

My dreams right now are many: to raise a happy, righteous family, make wonderful memories, write and publish a book, live in a little farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, return to Portugal, go on missions with my husband, and maybe even change the world through words...What are your goals and dreams?

{To view this print in my shop, click here}

Day 12: His Will

"And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will." -Words of Mormon 1:7

This scripture inspires me. Mormon was just about to deliver up the plates to his son Moroni when he found this small record--the plates of Nephi. He could have easily dismissed it and set it aside. He had just finished abridging the entire Book of Mormon--surely this one small record out of the hundreds was insignificant, right? But Mormon was in tune with the Spirit, so he heard the whisper to include this record with his abridgment. He wrote the verse above following his decision. What faith Mormon had to listen to such a small and seemingly insignificant prompting. This decision would prove invaluable considering the loss of the 116 pages that would happen centuries later.

In short, the Lord knows what needs to happen. He orchestrates his plan perfectly. All we need to do is trust Him and listen. If we do, He will work His great and glorious will through us.

Day 11: Happiness

The secret to finding happiness is really not about "looking" for it. It's about creating it.

We can best create joy in our lives by living righteously and doing the things that light our hearts with  happiness. I've wasted a lot of time looking for happiness by trying to be perfect instead of simply trying to be the very best me.

Life is so precious. I encourage you to do at least three things today that fill your soul with joy. In this way, you will be creating your very own happiness.

Day 10: My Heart

This quote was requested from a sweet mother who won my giveaway a few weeks back and I just love it so much. There is never a shortage of love in your heart. With each new child (or grandchild or niece or nephew) added to a family, your heart just increases its capacity to love. It's amazing really. And I think it's part of our divinity as mothers...

We just returned home from a lovely weekend with family, canning homemade applesauce, relaxing, and birthday partying. My hands are so full with my children at this stage in their lives but my heart is fuller still--with love and gratitude and warmth and memories. My children are my greatest treasures on earth and I am who I am because of the person they've helped me become.

{To view this print in my shop, click here}

Day 9: You are Loved

I fell in love with the song "You are Loved" by Josh Groan back in 2007. I remember sitting in the Hinckley building on the campus of BYU-Idaho rocking my newborn son in his car seat. I would have my ear phones in listening to this song as I studied for my Elementary Education classes. My husband and I were both in school and we would switch off watching our son day in, day out.

This song always made me tear up and I listened to it nearly every day because life was hard. The weight of the world was heavy on my heart. There was hurt that I hid but I wanted to shine. And this song symbolized everything I felt. It reminded me to never give up and intentionally seek to feel the powerful love of my Heavenly Father, my Savior Jesus Christ, and my little family. We lived so far away from family during those university years and we had nothing. Nothing, that is, except for each other...and the Lord.  During those years I grew so close to my Father in Heaven and my husband. We relied on the Lord and each other for everything because that's all we had. Though we had but little, we loved each other deeply and profoundly and that carried us through.

If you get a minute, listen to this song today and think of all the people who love you. Never give up no matter how tough life gets. Sometimes it's good to be reminded of just how dearly you. are. loved.

Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy
I...I will lift it for you

Don't give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you
I...I will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved

Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside
I...I will be there to find you

Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I...I will shine to guide you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved

You are loved
Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
Don't give up
Every one needs to be heard
You are loved


{To view this print in my shop, click here}