We Are All Ugly Ducklings

 I'll never be ready for my mission.

I don't like how short my legs are.

I'm not smart enough to teach others about the gospel.

I literally have no upper lip.

I annoy myself all the time, I can't imagine how others view me.

What if I never baptize anyone?

I am just a bother.

The story of the Ugly Duckling tells of a plain-looking bird born in a barnyard. His brothers and sisters and the other birds and animals on the farm tease him for being plain and ugly, so he runs off. The Ugly Duckling finds a home with an old woman, but her cat and hen also make fun of him, so he doesn't stay there long. In his wanderings, the Ugly Duckling comes across a flock of swans, and dreams and aspires to be just like them! He spends a cold and lonely winter hiding in a cave until springtime, when the flock of swans comes to the lake near his hiding place. When the Ugly Duckling approaches the swans, he's delighted to find that they accept him and treat him like one of them. When he looks at his reflection in the lake, he realizes, that he is not an ugly duckling, but indeed a majestic swan. When the swans fly off from the lake, he spreads his wings and joins them, 

One of Satan's greatest tool against us is self doubt. I feel that now more than ever. I can't tell you how many times a day I question if I am ready to serve a mission, if I am worthy, and if I will EVER be enough. I beat myself up over past mistakes, dislike myself because of how I look, and tend to overthink everything.

I am the ugly duckling.

 We are all the ugly duckling.

Unfortunately, we cannot look into a lake and see the reflection of who we are, but wouldn't that be nice? We have to work to discover it. We work to find who we really are by praying to our heavenly father ernestly, ignoring the tempations of the devil, and "enduring to the end". Seems like a small list, but that's really hard! It's hard to not get down on yourself sometimes. Luckily, we have someone to help us along the way.

We all have things to improve, weaknesses to overcome, and emotional barriers to break down. When life gets as crazy as it often does, it's easy for Satan to make us think we will never be able to just be....better. But, there is someone who knows exactly who we are. Someone who knows what we are capable of, looks past the imperfections and self-degrading, and is always there to build us back up and make us a magnificent swan. 

Jesus Christ.

He suffered not just for our sins, but felt every heartache, pain, self doubt, and devaluing thought. He felt the ugly duckling in all of us. Why would he suffer if he knew we could never reach our full potential? He wouldn't have, that's the answer.

We are too hard on ourselves. Give yourself a break once in a while. As my favorite Doctor said:

And please, don't forget that everyone else is an ugly duckling too. You're not the only one out there with troubles. Love people. Find the best in everyone you meet, and help when you can. I promise that by doing that, you will more easily discover who you really are. By helping others, you help yourself.

So, let me correct my list back at the top to set the example for each of us.

I will be ready for my mission because God is with me.

My short legs will carry me to amazing places.

I am smart enough to teach the gospel, and that I don't know, the Holy Ghost will help me with.

The size of my lips doesn't matter, only that my words testify of Christs love for everyone.

How others view me doesn't matter, I just need to love and be patient with myself.

If I don't baptize anyone it's ok, as long as I tried my best.

I will never be a bother to God.

I am a Child of God, and so are you.

Here's what President Uchtdorf has to say about finding yourself.

This week I am thankful for imperfections. I wouldn't be who I am without them.