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You Are Not Damaged Goods

Self-Worth

I was recently shopping around for some new furniture for our condo.  The furniture we’ve had for many years had seen its better days and my wife and I decided that it was time for a change. We traveled from showroom to showroom and gradually narrowed down our choices.

As I was wondering through the various furniture stores, I noticed that most locations had a damaged goods section or clearance area.  There were tables with scratches or damaged corners as well as dressers with missing drawers.  It was a true “land of misfit toys” all at bargain prices.

What really caught my attention was that in every store we visited, the damaged goods section was seemingly tucked away in a corner of the store, or in some hard to find location.  It was as if the rejected furniture pieces were ostracized from the rest of the furniture world.

I can remember many times in my life when I felt alone and separated from the world.  There were times when I felt like damaged goods myself and wondered why.  I tried to compare myself to others and usually felt short-changed or trying to figure out why everyone else seemed to have more going for them than me.  Often, I would become jealous of my friends who were more outgoing or successful.  It was a miserable feeling trying to be someone I wasn’t or trying to live up to a standard that was not meant for me to achieve.  Depression and loneliness became constant companions.

As a Christian, I slowly learned that there is no such thing as damaged goods as it relates to God’s view of us.  In God’s eyes, we are all special.  Each of us has God-given gifts and abilities that make us unique in God’s Kingdom.  My prayer is that you will learn as I did to stop comparing yourself to others and, instead, focus on allowing God to develop your God-given gifts and talents.  Recognize the special creation YOU are in God’s eyes and celebrate with the joy that only Christ can provide.

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We Can All Have a Clean Slate

Self-Worth

As a child, I used to love to play with a toy called “Etch-A-Sketch.”  In those days, before video games, computers, and all of the electronic gadgets we have today, the Etch-A-Sketch was pretty amazing.  You could rotate the small white knobs clockwise and create a series of straight lines and create almost any picture you could imagine.  If you were really skilled, you would learn how to rotate the left and right knobs simultaneously which would create a diagonal line.  I never advanced much past a square or straight line, but I witnessed many folks who were true artists.  The truly amazing thing about the Etch-A-Sketch was that if you didn’t like your picture or artwork, you just simply shook the Etch-A-Sketch back and forth and the screen would magically erase.  You then had a blank slate in order to begin another drawing.  You didn’t need paper; you didn’t need erasers.  All you needed was a little creativity and Etch-A-Sketch handled everything else. No matter how bad my artwork was, once I shook the Etch-A-Sketch, the drawing was erased never to be seen again.  It was as if my artwork had never occurred at all.  I can remember sitting and drawing for hours upon hours trying to get the perfect picture but becoming so frustrated.   Finally, I would get so frustrated, I would ask my Mom or Dad to take the Etch-A-Sketch from me and I would watch in amazement as they began to create a Masterpiece that was beyond description.  How they created such a wonderful picture was baffling to me but it made me want to always step aside and let them take control.

I think back over my life and remember time and time again when I made decisions I’ve regretted.  We all have.  There’s not a person alive who has not done something or said something they wished they hadn’t said, or had something happen to them or done something to someone they wished had not happened.  Unfortunately, its so easy to beat ourselves up over and over again or second guess ourselves over what should or should not have been.   In fact, it can get to the point where all we think about is what “was” and not what “can be.”   We look at poor decisions we’ve made in the past and continue to remind ourselves what could have been had we only made the “right” decision.  We look at those who may have hurt us in the past and continue to carry those feelings of hurt and even revenge as we wonder “why me?”  We look at those we may have hurt and wish we had a “second chance” to make things right.  We look at relationships with parents and family and think how much better things could have been.  We look at our jobs and careers and think it’s just not fair what’s happened to me.  On and on we go with never-ending questions of woulda, shoulda, coulda to the point that our thoughts take our life down a path of never-ending self-doubt, pity, and depression.   It doesn’t have to be this way.

As Christians, we can choose to make positive changes and stop walking down the paths of self-doubt, pity, and depression.  We only need to remind ourselves that our past mistakes and past decisions and past actions don’t have to continually imprison us.  There is no mistake you’ve ever made; no sin you’ve ever committed; no hurt you’ve ever received from others, that God can’t erase, heal, and change.  How do we do this?

  1. Ask Christ to heal your heart of the hurt; the pain; the regrests; the jealousy; the pride; and the bad feelings from your past.  It is as simple as asking, accepting, and believing.  At that exact instant, your slate has been cleared in God’s eyes.  Just like the Etch-A-Sketch, your past mistakes have been removed forever in God’s eyes.
  2. Allow Christ to guide your life.  I know from experience that the more I try to do in my own power, the worse things become.  Once I get out of the way and allow God to control my life, things begin to improve.  Just like with the Etch-A-Sketch, I’ve got to surrender control to the Master and let him create the masterpiece and direct my path.
  3. Act on how God directs your life.  It’s one thing to simply know what you believe God is directing you to do.  It’s an entirely different step to actually take action in the direction you need to go.  Sometimes fear paralyzes us.  Sometimes we just aren’t sure which path to take.  Sometimes we did make a bad decision and now God is correcting us.  The important thing is that you listen and allow God to direct your path.

Rather than continuing to draw your own path, allow the Master to take control of your life and create the masterpiece He has designed for you.

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Avoid Being the Label Maker

Self-Worth

We live in a Society that loves labels.  By definition, a label provides information, or some clue, as to what is being labeled.  We label our food so that we know the can we are about to purchase is Green Beans and not Black-eyed Peas, or that we’ve purchased Vanilla Wafers and not Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Labels not only contain the name of what you’re possibly buying, but oftentimes contain much needed information such as nutritional facts.  After all, I need to know how many calories are contained in the cookies I am about to enjoy so I know how many extra miles to walk on the treadmill.  Labels even tell us what size clothes are on the rack so that we make sure we buy what fits.  Labels are everywhere we look and we can’t avoid them.

Unfortunately, labels can be deadly weapons in the wrong hands.  We’ve all heard stories about medicines that weren’t labeled correctly or had improper warnings.  We can probably all think of a child we knew in school that was not considered “athletic” or was not considered “cool” and was labeled.  We all know someone who is overweight and is labeled.  We all know someone who is shy and is labeled.  Labels are even assigned to those with a certain accent, as with my Southern accent, usually in a negative manner. You can even be labeled based on your income level or your education level or by the job you have.  Let’s admit it, we tend to look down on the Fast Food employee and look up to the Physician.  We even label others based on the car they drive or how large their home is. I’m sure you can think of many more examples or perhaps have even been a victim of being labeled yourself.

My point is that labels based on fact provide needed information.  Labels based on opinion; incomplete information, bias; or simple differences among people take on a new identity.  At that point, labels become judgemental and are like a sharp knife cutting and slashing anything in it’s path. Facts don’t matter to the labeler.  Reasonableness and Common Sense don’t matter to the labeler. Nothing avoids the wrath of the label in the wrong hands.

As a Christian, I can’t honestly say that I’ve always stayed away from labeling others.  I’ve been guilty of saying harsh things many times and sometimes wish I could take my words back; unfortunately, you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.  If you’ve been guilty of labeling others, I can tell you that you’ll cause more harm to yourself than to the ones you’re trying to label.  If you’ve been a victim of labeling, never forget that you are a special creation in God’s eyes.  We’ve all  been given a unique set of gifts and talents that God will encourage you to use in a mighty way.  No one of us is better than another in God’s eyes.  The person the World saw as a Shepherd, God saw as a King.  The person the World saw as a carpenter, God saw as a Savior.

God doesn’t have any use for labels and neither should we.  Just because the World may label us or someone else, doesn’t mean we have to join in.

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Realizing the Significance of Insignificance

Self-Worth

I have to confess that I’m not a mechanic.  Recently, as hard as I tried, I just could not get my riding lawnmower to work properly.  I could crank the engine easy enough and put the mower in gear, but each time, the belt that turns the blade would fall off the pulley.  I would stop and put the belt back on the pulley, only to put the mower in gear and have the belt fall off again.  Over and over again, I placed the belt back on the pulley, only to see it fall off.  I could not figure out why.  It was so frustrating.

After a few hours of working on the mower, I finally noticed a small pin (called a Cotter Pin) that was missing near the pulley.  There was a medal guard that held the belt on the pulley and this medal guard was secured by this small Cotter Pin.  I couldn’t believe that this small, seemingly insignificant, pin was the key to the complete functioning of this huge piece of power equipment.  Here was this several hundred dollar riding lawn-mower, with a smooth running engine, that was rendered useless because of a non-working belt held together by a fifteen cent Cotter Pin.  What I would normally have deemed insignificant was actually tremendously essential.

I don’t know about you, but there are just days when I feel like I’m the most insignificant, meaningless person in the World.  I feel like the little Cotter Pin in my mower.  Maybe it’s a mid-life crisis; maybe it’s the stress of everyday life. Maybe it’s because I don’t seem to have any special skills or talents like some people.  Whatever the reason, there are times when I just feel almost like a failure in life.  I take an inventory of my life and think, “where has all the time gone?”  “What have I really accomplished in life.”  I’m just little old me and the World is so big.  I realize that I am just a little speck of dust in the desert of life.  It’s a true feeling of loneliness and mediocrity.

I believe there are times when each of us feels this way. For me, I have my little pity party and whine and complain and feel sorry for myself.  Then the Lord reminds me as only He can. He draws me closer to Him and strengthens my relationship with Him.  He shows me that the closer I get to Him and His Majesty and Greatness, the more I realize that I really am small, but that there’s nothing to be ashamed of or feel sorry about.  The difference is that in God’s eyes, size doesn’t equate to holiness.

The Lord blessed each of us with various talents and gifts. Some of you may have more visible and vocal talents.  Some of you, like me, may have less noticeable gifts.  The important thing to remember (and I struggle at times myself) is that we can be confident that there are no insignificant gifts and talents in God’s Kingdom.  It doesn’t matter whether I’m a small “Cotter Pin” in the World’s eyes, or the large, attention-grabbing “Mower,” all of the part’s are equally important and must work together in unison to function properly.  I’m reminded that during those times that I feel small, unnoticeable, and worthless in the World’s eyes, I’m large, strong, victorious, and loved in God’s eyes.

Are you feeling like you’re not making a difference? Are you feeling like your talents are not important?  If so, you’re not alone.  Snuggle up to God and be reminded that every gift and talent of every person is equally critical to the Work of the Lord.  Then, thank HIM for the gifts and talents you do have, no matter what the World thinks; hold your head high and serve HIM with a new found confidence and excitement that only God can bring to your life.

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Strength In Numbers

Strength

Sunday was an especially emotional day for me.  The Cemetery in which my Mother is buried holds a special Candlelight service the First Sunday in December of each year.  The Cemetery personnel place small, single candles in front of each grave marker in the Cemetery.  Then, at a designated time, all the candles are lit.  It is truly a sight to see.

Leading up to the event is quite special.  Cars arrive to the Cemetery by the dozens.  As each car enters and parks in the Cemetery, you can’t help but wonder about the different stories and loved ones that are represented.  What kind of life did they lead?  How did they pass away?  What family do they have remaining?  Were they Christian, or non-Christian?

It was a particularly cold night, at least by Georgia standards, in the low 20’s.  We were told that we should all light our respective candles precisely at 5:30 PM, just at the brink of dusk.  As people arrived, you could see the hundreds of people walking to the various sites of their particular loved ones.  You could see families standing around gravesides holding hands.  You saw others sitting in folding chairs near their family member or friends graveside.  Despite all the different stories and all the different families that were all represented, we all had one thing in common at that particular time and that was to remember and celebrate the life of a particular loved one;  Mom in my case.

At precisely 5:30, you could see the first candle being lit.  Then another. Then, yet another.  Slowly, but surely, the entire Cemetery was a-glow with the beautifully lit candles.  Not one candle on it’s own would be noticeable, but all the hundreds of candles together united in a symphony of lite that was even observant in surrounding neighborhoods and streets.

There are a lot of Christian analogy’s I could use for this story, but let me take you down this journey.  Speaking from experience, I know that there are times in my life that I have felt totally insignificant.  Useless, and unworthy for God’s service, in my opinion.  I had no special skills.  I am not a great speaker.  I don’t have a lot of money.  I don’t have multiple degrees.  How was God going to use an insignificant person like me?

Maybe you’ve felt the same way at times?  I’ve learned over the years that nothing is insignificant in God’s eyes.  What may be totally insignificant in your eyes is wonderful in God’s eyes.  Instead of dwelling on what I didn’t have, I began focusing on what I did have.  I could certainly smile and be friendly to others, couldn’t I?  I could certainly be a friend to someone in need, couldn’t I?  I could even write a small “I’m Thinking of You” Note to a friend.  I could pray for someone in need.  I could just listen to a close friend pour his or her heart out and let them know I care.  I could live my life by example so that others could see Christ’s Love through me.  I learned that these small things that I can do are really not insignificant, in God’s eyes, especially if you realize that we are the Body of Christ.  If I do a little and you do a little and someone else does a little, it all of a sudden becomes larger than what I could do on my on.

Just like Sunday at the Candlelight service, the one, insignificant Candle had little affect.  But, in union with hundreds of others, it was more powerful than one could imagine.

Are you feeling insignificant in God’s service?  If so, don’t lose site of the fact that you are an important part of God’s overall plan and, together with other Christians, YOU can make a difference.

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