I write these words coming off of a week that was
filled with a band concert, a choir concert, four nights of dance dress
rehearsals, six dance recitals, along with visits from both my parents and
Stacey’s parents. It was a full week in
our home. It was also very much a life-giving
week for our family.
I was able to spend some time watching what our girls love
to do: play music; sing; dance. I was blessed
by watching how the teachers have worked with all the kids in band, choir, and
dance. I could see the growth these kids have experienced from their teachers during
the past nine months. Perhaps most
importantly, in the midst of all the busy-ness, I was reminded of who I am –
lovingly and wonderfully made by God, and that God is at work through each of
our lives.
Weeks like this past week for our family are precious. I think many of us live busy lives and it’s
difficult to juggle the events going on in our lives. We work hard at our jobs; we take our kids
from one event to another; many friends I know provide care for their aging
parents and their rapidly growing kids; we try to keep up with responsibilities
at home; we seek to be faithful stewards of our time and financial
resources. In the midst of all that
busy-ness it is easy to forget who we are.
For any of us, it’s easy to forget who we are. We go grocery shopping and see magazine
covers that tell us that in order to be of worth in this world we need to look
a certain way. Facebook and Twitter give
us our social standing by how many “likes” or “followers” we have. For some of us the numbers that appear on a
scale affect what we think of ourselves.
The grades we receive on a math test or on an English paper determine if
we call ourselves “smart” or “dumb.” The
number of push-ups we can do or the amount of weight we can bench press control
whether we are “strong” or “weak.” The phone
calls we receive or the visits that never happen make us feel as though we are
of no use anymore. Regardless of our
age, none of us are immune to those realities.
You know what? All
that is bunk! You are more than
that. As Psalm 139 reminds us, you are
fearfully and wonderfully made by God.
You are gifted by God and God is at work in your life so that you will
make a difference in this world. This simple yet profound reminder came to me watching and hearing the Senior Performance Company of Misty's Dance Unlimited. I invite you to watch it as well.
That reminder is the gift that found me in the busy-ness of
this past week. In the midst of everything you are doing and in the midst of
everything that goes on in your life, hold to the truth that in Jesus you have
a Lord that loves and values you, and that through you God is at work to change
the world.
