” . . . we are used to seeing ourselves as the world sees us–broken, struggling, failing, and frustrated.  But when God looks at you, an eternal and boundless love wells up inside him and he sees past every doubt, every fear, everything you think is shameful or broken about you.  When God looks at you, he sees something more beautiful, remarkable, and amazing than you could ever even wrap your head around.  In the words of St. John Paul the Great, ‘We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son’ (Pope John Paul II, 2002).”

(Gregory K. Popcak, Broken Gods)