Friday, June 17, 2016

OF WORTH AND VALUE


(Baby Lisa in photo)


The other day I was sitting here at my desk, and my attention was diverted toward the birds outside. I  noticed a new insistence in their chirping. I then remembered--it was past time to scatter their seed on the back patio for their dinner. As I was going downstairs, I was surprised at the fact that I really valued their opinion; and that I've gotten to recognize their various chirping sounds. Questioning chirps, depressed sounding chirps if I'm late--moving on to insistent and almost angry chirps if I'm really delayed. I'm surprised it's taken me this long to value these wonderful creatures from God, enough to listen to them more closely! (Poop all over my outdoor bistro table set...so what?!) How neat to be able to understand a bit of what they are expressing. Oh the happy, excited chirps when all that seed is scattered! When they hear my footsteps approaching on the gravel, their excited chatter increases exponentially! Maybe when we get to Heaven, we will understand all creatures with voice--because we will value them all so much more highly at that time . . .

The thing is, I couldn't really "get" what they were chirping about until I placed a value on them enough to listen. I had this thought after that experience . . . If I value Jesus . . . I need to listen to what He is trying to tell me.

My little children that died so young, they have a worth and value set by Almighty God Himself. The value "I" place on them, or others place on them . . .  is not important--only God's opinion really matters. (I'm thinking of my own dysfunctional "family of origin," as I write this.)

For those of us that sometimes do battle with family of origin "residual suffering fallout" I remind myself  . . . that our worth and value is set by God--not our family of origin. You cannot place a value on someone whom you've never taken the time to get to know. My parents never really knew me. It's a weird feeling--to feel as though I know my Father in Heaven better than I know my earthly parents. (Yesterday was the day my father died, several years ago--ironically-- on "Father's Day.")

Lisa's brief earthly life, has made me think of concepts I never would have thought about before she died --the concepts regarding "worth and value."
What a wonderful gift--because she lived--she helped to give me healing, on a painfully sore subject. 

 I know when someone values my opinion or not. Those types are quite skilled at being masters of the cold shoulder . . . the opposite of "A warm shoulder to lean on ". . .  one that provides support. Also, "being cold" is often the precursor to a decline of positive growth. 

The "good" that can come from a severe dearth of mortal valued opinion, is that it often makes one come that much closer to Christ --out of sheer necessity if by nothing else! But what treasure awaits us in His embrace and His warmth! He cares for us unconditionally. Answers our prayers! (sometimes we need to wait to see the fruit of our prayer though.) He hears us! Because He listens to us. Because He values us.

I love to read about the man with leprosy that asked Jesus if He was willing to heal him, and Jesus wasted no time, telling him He was willing to.  (Matthew 8:3 NIV)
Jesus saw value in that suffering man, even though the world at large did not. Actions speak louder than words, so first Jesus reached out and touched this poor soul, feeding him who suffered from "touch starvation."


"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." 
(Matthew 5:3 NIV)

And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter into the kingdom of God." (Matthew 18:3 NIV)

God gives us what we need, even when we're crying, and don't know how to ask for what we need. I love that about You, God!

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