Worth

Our worth is not based on our merit, our appeal, or significance. Although I can assure you that our actions reflect a much different picture. You cannot put a price tag on it; you cannot coat it with another layer of makeup and enhance it. It cannot be found in another person’s eyes or in the way that you are treated.

Our worth and value is wrapped up in so many things, at times we long to find it in others and our loved ones. Craving words of affirmation and a tender touch, we ask for it without words. And sometimes in our weakness we ask in the form of emotional barfing and experience the sting of reality.

Our neediness is revealed, our hearts are tender, and we sit in the waters waiting for someone to throw us the lifeline of worth. Our neediness causes the rope of worth to be much too short. We are left with words that bruise.

Clearly the words hurled in our direction were not what we wanted to hear; in fact it was the exact opposite. We are faced with the harsh reality that the ones we are craving approval from do not speak our language.

Only God can speak the language that heals the hurts.

I’m reminded of a story about a little girl and her father on a date. Before he takes his first bite he begins to praise his daughter telling her how wonderful she is and just as he is about to choke down his first bite she stops the fork from entering his mouth and says, “More Daddy.” This happened repeatedly, “More Daddy.” Even though the father didn’t get to finish his meal, his daughter’s heart was full.

Who are you looking to asking for “more”?

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has a great reward. “ (Heb 10:35)

Your worth:

A mirror cannot show you it.

A man cannot assure you of it.

A magazine cannot strip you of it.

Your past cannot deny you of it.

Letters to Jesus

She wrote a letter to Jesus and she gave it to my husband. Maybe in her sweet little mind he was the closest thing to God since he is her Pastor. We held the letter for a little while wondering what was inside. If a little girl, all of seven, could write a letter to God, what would it say?

In a matter of minutes we would find out.

Part of me wanted to leave it unopened, like it was meant for His eyes alone. And yet I knew that somehow we had been included in this little girls love note to God.

This is what it said:

Dear God,

How do you think I look?

Do you think I’m pretty? I hope so.

I love you. Ok?

Amen.

We laughed for a little while and then I said, “Well, that’s a woman in training for you.”

My husband chimed in, “Well, it would be if she asked the question five more times.”

With a dirty look thrown in his direction and a pain in my heart, I felt questions stirring in my heart.

What is it about our gender that craves beauty longing for acceptance? If we truly knew how God sees us…would we stop asking or looking for our value in the ones around us?

I wanted to take this little girl in my arms and give her the answer.

Sweet girl,

I think you are beautiful.

You can ask me a thousand times and my answer will be the same.

My child, you are lovely. You were created in My image.

Fashioned and formed, a workmanship that I delight in.

The kingdom of heaven belongs to hearts like yours.

I love you more.


Let God be your mirror. Let Him fill the deepest longings of your heart. You can ask of Him a thousand times and He will never grow tired of you asking.