What is it that you value? Your home? Your family? Your work? Your bank account? Your self? The list is probably limitless and varies from person to person. It can be strange to think of valuing our selves, but why not? We certainly aren’t value less. God has created mankind in his image. The Imago Dei. in the image of God. We are beautiful and capable and wonderfully made. We are not just a bunch of cells that dragged ourselves out of a pool of brackish water to rise to the creative humans we are today. We create, we think, we protect, we rationalize, we cry, we get angry, we feel sad, we feel overwhelming joy, we see beauty, we sing and make music. We write plays and produce films. We write songs and symphonies. We paint and we draw. We build houses and cities. All because we are made in the image of a creative and holy God, who displays emotions, love us deeply, and protects and provides. He created the sunsets, stars, mountains and flowers. And He loves all mankind deeply, beyond what we are able to perceive. He gives us grace and mercy when we don’t deserve it. He asks us to love Him and love our fellow man.
We miss so much when we don’t value others. When we don’t see others as made in the image of God. In fact, we often devalue others. We define the unborn children as mere cells and tissues. We label those with handicaps as having a less life, a less quality of life, and we often choose to judge our quality of life, or a normative life as the standard for quality of life. We believe the lies that older people are past their usefulness and aren’t worth saving when they get sick or injured. We value even less those with mental and intellectual disabilities, and in some places choose to abort babies that might have such a disability in utero. We see people as products of the flesh, of an animal nature, but we are not animals. We have the gift of self-realization and awareness, that animals do not posses. We have the ability to communicate with God and reflect Him.
Sometimes, when we aren’t feeling very valuable, we try to add value to ourselves. Maybe through a promotion at work, a new car, a larger home, a title, a college degree, a marriage, a relationship, a bigger bank account, or changing our physical appearance. But, in reality, we don’t need any of these add- ons, we are already valued and loved by God. We are not just “enough” we are more than just “enough” we are God’s beloved. – God Bless You, Nancy
Moving Forward 