Yes, You ARE Worthy of Love

 I went out for fresh interviews this past weekend in downtown Toms River. I didn’t have a lot of time, as I had a family event on the schedule, so I had a little less than an hour to meet people and hear their stories. Some days it can take quite a while to get a handful of interviews. Other days, it seems like people are searching for someone to talk to them, and I get interviews one right after the other.

On this particular day, I came across two young women, each two streets apart from the other, each very willing to be interviewed. But the similarity didn’t stop there…. Both grew up in abusive homes, both had parents who were addicts, and both had to learn to raise themselves.

But then there was one very significant difference in how they viewed themselves.

Each had a different sense of self-worth as they came out from the shadow of their childhood. Alanna told me, “I learned that I am worthy of love, and I learned to give love to myself.” She was confident, self-assured, and in a very loving relationship.

The other young woman, Amanda, with tears in her eyes, shared, “I just want to know that I am worthy of love. Amanda means, ‘Worthy of love.’ I just wish I felt that I was worthy of love.” She was homeless at the time of the interview, had lost custody of her son, and told me how much of a target she was from men while she lived on the streets.

Two women, similar childhoods, both reflecting on their self-worth—and both with completely different conclusions.

Those three words, “Worthy of love,” I am convinced, is what we all are seeking to feel. Every one of us has unique stories, unique childhoods, unique coming-of-age experiences, a unique ways of seeing ourselves. And yet we are all, each one of us, reckoning with the cry of our soul that longs to know that we can be loved for who we are, that we are enough as we are, that we are valued.

Please know this: You *are* worthy of love. There is a famous book that I love reading almost daily, and in it is says how we are made in “the image of God” Himself. That we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and we have been known and loved since before the world even began. Isn’t that an incredible, wondrous thought: that we are KNOWN, and deeply LOVED?

My dear friends, your past does not define you. Your mistakes, your failures, your broken promises and dreams unrealized do not define you. And the sins of others against you do not define you. God’s love for you is what defines you, and no mere human can ever take that away. 

I shared that with both Alanna and Amanda. I share that with many people I meet. (By the way, I have been working with several others, including churches and professionals, to help Amanda in the middle of her crisis. Things are moving in the right direction for her.)

In fact, I started Portraits of the Jersey Shore, because I myself am no longer a homeless alcoholic, because I learned that there is a God who loves me, and he loves everyone. 

And that knowledge changed everything. I sincerely love others unconditionally, without judgment, because I know how deeply loved each of us are. And that unconditional, no-judgment love I have for those whom I meet doing interviews for Portraits of the Jersey Shore, is what defines this page. Every person who has ever been featured on this page has dignity, and is worthy of our love.

I don’t know everyone’s story, but if I was betting man, I would venture to say that there is someone among you that needs to read this: you are deeply loved by God, and you are worthy of the love of everyone you meet. Don’t settle for less than the love and kindness we all long for in this fascinating, mysterious  journey called “Life.”

Oh, and by the way, I love you too. ~ Gregory Andrus

37 thoughts on “Yes, You ARE Worthy of Love”

  1. Having read this I thought it was extremely enlightening. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending a lot of time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worth it! Natividad Herrick Novick

  2. Sit sunt minima consequatur inventore natus autem non atque. Sequi qui et a assumenda iure fuga qui. Et quam a iste illo facilis dignissimos provident. Oralie Garald Sacttler

  3. Hi, its good post concerning media print, we all understand media is a impressive source of facts. Austin Lewes Griff Bernardine Rosco Toth

  4. I was reading through some of your posts on this site and I conceive this internet site is real instructive! Keep on posting . Adriaens Garwood Rennane

  5. Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me. Marylinda Ferrel Cristen

  6. Hi, Neat post. There is a problem with your website in internet explorer, may check this?K IE nonetheless is the market leader and a huge part of other folks will pass over your fantastic writing due to this problem. Geralda Ralph Clea

  7. fistfucks cunilingus nude cocksucker fuckings dong sex mothafuckaz fatso bitching cuntlicking nude beastiality Exclusive sex sex pecker fingerfucks Pussy Licking asswipe gangbanged BBW sex sex nigger British blowjob Small Tits sex muff nude cumshot phukking cyberfucking fucks butthead cocksucked Tattooed Women cooter prick POV sex porn Creampie nude Fingering porn motherfuckers cocksuck Babe sex wetback cobia mick Public porn bonehead lesbo Strap On Exclusive sex mothafucker browntown Pissing ejaculation sex merde dildos sex Massage Masturbation cunts farts fistfuck merde hard on porn mothafuckin sex Fisting dinks horniest dipshit pussys ejaculates Muscular Men nude farts cocksucked mick porn Cumshot porn Compilation Gay boy sex cuntlicking porn orgasims browneye Bondage sex sex College bitchers porn motherfucker ejaculated Muscular Men buttfuck porn mothafuckings nude bestial Teen porn sex Described Video sex punk School fucker bitching cunnilingus Big Dick cocksucks Smoking nude farted Bondage Amateur porn fagot hotsex Small Tits sex muff nude cumshot phukking cyberfucking fucks butthead cocksucked Tattooed Women cooter prick POV sex porn Creampie nude Fingering porn motherfuckers cocksuck Babe sex wetback cobia mick Public porn bonehead lesbo Strap On Exclusive sex mothafucker browntown Pissing ejaculation sex merde dildos sex Massage Masturbation cunts farts fistfuck merde hard on porn mothafuckin sex Fisting dinks horniest dipshit pussys ejaculates Muscular Men nude farts cocksucked mick porn Cumshot porn Compilation Gay boy sex cuntlicking porn orgasims browneye Bondage sex sex College bitchers porn motherfucker ejaculated Muscular Men buttfuck porn mothafuckings nude bestial Teen porn sex Described Video sex punk School fucker bitching cunnilingus Big Dick cocksucks Smoking nude farted Bondage Amateur porn fagot hotsex Small Tits sex muff nude cumshot phukking cyberfucking fucks butthead cocksucked Tattooed Women cooter prick POV sex porn Creampie nude Fingering porn motherfuckers cocksuck Babe sex wetback cobia mick Public porn bonehead lesbo Strap On Exclusive sex mothafucker browntown Pissing ejaculation sex merde dildos sex Massage Masturbation cunts farts fistfuck merde hard on porn mothafuckin sex Fisting dinks horniest dipshit pussys ejaculates Muscular Men nude farts cocksucked mick porn Cumshot porn Compilation Gay boy sex cuntlicking porn orgasims browneye Bondage sex sex College bitchers porn motherfucker ejaculated Muscular Men buttfuck porn mothafuckings nude bestial Teen porn sex Described Video sex punk School fucker bitching cunnilingus Big Dick cocksucks Smoking nude farted Bondage Amateur porn fagot hotsex Herta Ange Hogen

  8. I love looking through a post that will make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment. Marje Hillie Hendrickson

  9. Hi,ich bin seit kurzem stolzer Besitzer eines UE46ES6300. Jedoch komme ich nicht in den Developer-Zugang. Wurde er aus der aktuellsten Firmware entfernt?? Pauli Luke Emmet

  10. Unquestionably believe that which you said. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the internet the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people consider worries that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks Jane Davey Combs

  11. Hello, all the time i used to check web site posts here early in the morning, as i like to gain knowledge of more and more. Lilli Clair Eng

  12. My arrival will be on April 11 or 12, 2019. I might need it until April 14, 2019. So 2-3 days please quote me. Self driving. Thank you. Marley Leighton Island

  13. precies zoals ik me ook voel inderdaad, ben al aangesproken door klanten, mensen reageren zo vijandig. dan denk ik, zal ik uitleggen hoe ik erover denk en rustig blijven, soms komt er boosheid op en wil ik zeggen dat ik geen schaap ben, maar tot nu toe kan ik me rustig en liefdevol houden. pfff. wat een verdeeldheid in de wereld, jammer. dankje voor het goed uitgelegde gevoel in het verhaal, Natasha Colman Hazen

  14. Thanks for any other wonderful article. Thee place else may anyone get that kind of info in such a perfect manner of writing? Addia Shep Hooper

  15. I was excited to discover this website. I want to to thank you for ones time for this particularly wonderful read!! I definitely really liked every part of it and i also have you book marked to look at new stuff in your blog. Cyndi Dallas Popele

  16. Everything is very open with a really clear explanation of the issues. It was really informative. Your site is very useful. Thank you for sharing! Fredia Ring Eugen

  17. I also like Flash, however I am not a good designer to design a Flash, except I have software program by witch a Flash is automatically created and no more to work. Floris Duane Ogdon

  18. I have recently started a site, the info you provide on this web site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work. Sarena Remus Wershba

  19. After I originally commented I appear to have clicked the
    -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I recieve 4 emails with the same comment.
    There needs to be a means you can actually remove
    me from that service? Cheers!

    My page: WondaFStumpf

Comments are closed.