The Cool Kids by Jessica Thompson

Dear Friend,

Where you or someone you knew growing up in that infamous group called the "cool kids?" Well congratulations if you were, but for me I always longed to be but never was. This played with my mind and built an inferior image that I was never good enough to be a "good" friend or that others would accept me for who I was.I thought I had to look, act or sound a certain way. I attempted to become a mimic; hoping someone would fall for my game. As a result, I grappled to be someone I wasn't and it was depressing. Although this mindset started in grade school it plagued me on into my adult relationships.

One relationship in particular that it affected was my friendship with LaKisha. When I met her she was like the big sister I never had, the person I would look upon from a far and think, "I wish I had a friend like her!" Having a friend like her would validate who I was to the world, because being friends with someone like LMJ would give me the accolades I needed to be considered a good friend. When we became cool, it was hard to believe that she genuinely wanted to be my friend. Somebodies like her didn't roll with the nobodies like me. Thank God she wasn't fake. She shared the love of Christ with me through friendship like I had never experienced before!

As my relationship with Christ became stronger I was able to see me from a totally different perspective. I saw myself from His perspective and realized I had the wrong mindset. I was insecure because I felt I didn't have enough, I hadn't accomplished enough to be accepted by others or even God for that matter. But that's definitely not the case. The Bible says in Philippians 2:5 that I should have the mind of the Christ. And since Christ was (and is) solid, firm, and secure, then I should be also. No more waddling in the wrong mindset because life's too short to live stressed (and insecure) when you're JessBlessed! We are the cool kids...

Love,

Jess

WATCH This morning Coffee and Conversations on YouTube: The Compassion of God Part 1 https://youtu.be/mh--cbFR5rA

Jessica Thompson M.ED (@jessblessed) is a third grade teacher for LL.OWENS school in Pine Bluff, she is an active member of Canaan Christian Center and the Vice President of Operations for LMJ (LaKisha M. Johnson Ministries) Ministries. Jess is married to Eddie and they have five (5)

beautiful children.