the terror that if you stop performing joy, the people who love you will realize there is nothing real left to love and leave

The Light Needs No Performance

The house is quiet now, and the mask you wore all day feels like it has fused to your skin. You are terrified that if you stop performing joy, the people who love you will see the hollow space inside and walk away.

But there is a light within you that does not need to be acted out to be real. It shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

You do not have to manufacture brightness for the light to exist. The truth lives in us and will be with us forever.

The performance is heavy, but the light is weightless. Stop trying to convince them.

Just be still. The love that stays is not fooled by the smile you fake.

Drawing from

John, 2 John

Verses

John 1:5, 2 John 1:2

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