Proud To Be Least

Take a look at this dog.  At first glance I noticed he was missing an eye, of course.  That's the first thing I saw...the imperfection.  Then I noticed the little cut on his skin and how he's shaved around his front leg and neck.  Check out his back leg...it's been shaved too in one spot.  How many people would actually buy a dog that looked like this?  Poor little guy.  :)  He was in some kind of accident, but he is someone's pet.  He is valuable to someone.  He is damaged and less attractive, less capable, than a bigger and stronger dog with both eyes intact.  But he still serves a purpose and brings joy to others.

I think we are all kind of like this dog.  Some of us are a little rough around the edges with our personality.  Some of us have scars from burns or surgeries.  Some of us just wish we looked different...we wish we had more hair or straighter hair or that our noses were smaller.  Some of us feel on the inside how this dog looks on the outside.  Beat up, scarred, and feeling unloveable.

The good news is....that no matter how we look or how we feel, we ARE loveable and we DO have purpose in this world!  Each of us was created uniquely with unique gifts and talents and personality traits.  There is no one quite like any of us.  That's what makes people so interesting!  The Bible tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  God knew and loved us before we were born.  He wanted us.  He created us in the womb.  He created each of us for a purpose.  We are each his children.  It's up to us whether or not we accept that and become His sons and daughters.  There's a difference. 

For those of us who have children in our lives, think for a minute about them.  Each of them is unique.  Each of them has different talents and gifts that you may be able to see already, depending on how old they are.  Your natural inclination is probably to nurture them to develop that in their lives.  Build on what they're good at.  Look at the good stuff.  Doesn't it feel good to help encourage someone and tell them how good they are at something?  As adults, some of us have lost sight of what we are good at, what gives us passion. what inspires us.  Life has a way of masking that sometimes.  When we are feeling "less than" everyone else around us...when we are feeling unloveable and hopeless....that's a good time to start poking around in your head and heart to find what motivates you, what drives you, what gives you passion.  Chances are, this will point you in the right direction for finding what your gifts and talents are.

You are not here for nothing.  There is more. 

Have a blessed day!