Honesty Pants

Sometimes I wonder if I have early onset Alzheimer’s. You might as well put me in diapers – I am so extremely forgetful, I annoy myself because of it. That is, until I forget about it again.

But really.
It wouldn’t be a big of deal if I kept forgetting my pen bag, water bottle, or even homework . . .
But when I forget my worth and where I find it?
Call in the intervention team, this is serious.

I feel like women in general toss around the phrase “self-worth” like a hot potato. We toss it back and forth, to and fro, hoping to avoid a burn but still anxiously waiting and wanting the lady across from you to sit down and eat it and tell everyone else how it tastes . . . Yet, it never occurs to us that we can sit and eat too.

I know a very prominent area where women my age find our self-worth is in how many guys find you attractive, find you worth pursuing, find you worth the risk (whatever that risk may be). And yet, that is a dead end. But we all walk down it at some point. It eventually becomes a matter of whether we turn back or not.

For me, I walk down that road when I forget there’s a better way. I walk toward that dead end when I get distracted by the pretty trees and smooth pavement and the crowd of women headed in that direction. I walk down that way when I forget that Jesus already counted me worthy of the kingdom when He freely died in my place (2 Thess 1:5,11). I walk that way when I forget that because of His calling, I am a gift.

I was gently reminded of that truth yesterday through a sweet and dedicated friend. I believe we all need friends like my friend Tessa, who will lovingly remind us of how rare we are, when we let ourselves forget. The reality of our worth shouldn’t be dependent on another sinner’s opinion or preference. It should remain because the God who counts us worthy is unchanging.

I’m learning that lies are incredibly attractive when you’re lonely and don’t have anyone by your side to remind you of the truth. I'm going to start traveling in groups.

So on those days when you don’t feel worthy, whisper to yourself:
I am a gift.
I am a gift.
I am a gift.

And put your voice on repeat.