Let’s recap: There is no one like you. There never has been and there never will be again. You are a one of a kind. You Are Special! You hold something that no one else does, but even more, that which you hold is beautiful. You were lovingly crafted from the dust of the earth by the Creator of the universe. You are His masterpiece. You Are Beautiful! We’ve spent the last two weeks talking about how unique and beautiful you are. Now, I want to talk about your value.
Do you ever feel like if you disappeared no one would ever miss you? Do you ever wonder if anyone would notice if you just stopped showing up one day? Do you ever just have days where you want to curl up and hide away from the world? Maybe you disappointed someone really important to you today. Maybe you royally messed up a big presentation. Maybe you let the team down somehow. Or maybe you just feel like nothing you do is right. I think everyone has those days. Everyone has doubts, moments of weakness. It’s hard not to tear yourself down sometimes. But is it true that if we mess up, if there’s something wrong with us that we aren’t worth anything? Are our feelings of dejection and worthlessness valid? I don’t believe it. Not for a minute.
Have you ever had the pure joy of cradling a precious little newborn? It is an experience unlike any other. Anyone who knows me, knows I completely burst with excitement and awe in the presence of babies. I love children. And the younger they are, the more amazed I am at the miracle they are. Each specific soul, every single person is a magnificent, beautiful, and priceless Child of God. We are all His children. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Newborns are completely and utterly dependent upon their parents for every need. They can’t do anything but cry to let you know they are upset! Without caregivers, babies would starve, sit in their own refuse, and freeze to death. They would never know love. They would never know warmth. They would live in constant fear and pain. I can’t help but be fascinated by this.
It breaks my heart to know that there are people out there who don’t understand the miracle of life, nor do they consider the repercussions of their actions against these magnificent creatures. Babies grow into children and children into adults. So many people grow up without that sense of warmth and safety. They believe they are someone else’s property or that there is something wrong with them because of the twisted evil in this world. But I want to relieve any of you from that guilt, shame, fear, and rejection.
Many, many, many girls and boys alike don’t feel valuable. People can be cruel in this broken world. We treat each other harshly and unique, individuals suffer because of it. No matter what you’ve been through, no matter what you’ve done, you need to know how truly priceless you are. You are precious. You are worthy. You are valuable. You are incredible! Think about it. What do we pay the most for? Things that there are a limited supply of, things that are rare. Basic economics: supply and demand. The more of it there is, the cheaper it is. How much is the famous Mona Lisa worth? How much is the rarest gem worth? People pay beaucoups of money for artwork, jewels, and other unique, gorgeous things—things that there are so few of. If there is only one of you, then there is no possible price high enough to replace you. You are far from worthless.
Going back to Genesis, we find this interesting tidbit of information: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” If God is God—the being who has the power to create light with a single word, the being that has the power to give life from nothing, the being who is not restrained by time or space…are you catching my drift here?—and He chose to create us in His image, then…wouldn’t it be an insult to say that we don’t have value? If the Creator of the whole, entire stinking universe decided He would create humans to be like Him, shouldn’t we be honored and humbled? Dogs aren’t created in God’s image. Cats, whales, butterflies, and monkeys aren’t created in God’s image. Stars, clouds, trees, oceans, and desserts aren’t created in God’s image. But we are. We are meant to be a reflection of Him. Do you dare to propose that God has no value or worth? Then who are we to decide that God’s special, beautiful masterpieces are anything less than priceless?
Sometimes, it’s difficult to feel your true worth. Sometimes words cut deep and I think many people have a habit of internalizing the criticisms of others. But, when we stop to actually think about it, we can be reminded that we are individuals, that we are beautiful, and that means we have great value. What can you do to remind those around you of their true worth? I mean, if we were to all find one person in our lives today and choose to see them the way God sees them, how would that change the world? How would that change the day of that person? What kind of difference could we make in our society if we chose intentionally, on purpose to encourage one another and remind each other of how special, beautiful, and precious we are? How would this new perspective affect our daily choices? Would you change the words you use, the attitudes you have?
I want to challenge you guys to find at least one person in your day today to encourage and love on. Find someone who needs to be reminded that they can’t be replaced, that they are beautiful inside and out, and that they are utterly priceless. Then, I want you to try an experiment. The next time you’re walking on the sidewalk or find yourself in a crowd of people, study the faces around you and imagine what God sees when He looks at His children. Imagine the crazy love that pours out of Him for each and every person who surrounds you. And know that He’s crazy for you too.
Love always,
Coralie
Priceless by For King and Country
P.S. If you’ve been abused, if you’re contemplating suicide, or if you just plain don’t feel special, beautiful, or priceless, please reach out to someone! Know that there are resources out there for you. Please know that there are people who care about you, who value you. If you don’t have friends, seek professional help. If you don’t want to seek professional help, reach out here. I’d be honored to know you. There is hope. There is purpose and meaning for your life. And you are a magnificent masterpiece. No one can replace you. Please, please don’t ever believe you are anything less than loved!