It’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog. In the meantime, I turned 35 years old, and today my wife turned 33 years old (please call her ‘Double 3 Stef’; like 007, it’s her new favorite thing I can assure you :) )
Every birthday I’ve celebrated since about age 30 has not been all that great, minus my 32nd when I proposed to my beautiful wife. Now, why would a birthday not be a reason for celebration you may be wondering?
Well, starting on my 30th birthday I started this weird type of self-reflection, “I’m 30 and what have I actually accomplished” train of thought that has generally served no specific purpose except to put me in a funk for at least 1 day and usually several that follow.
A few weeks ago on my 35th birthday, I started going down the same well worn path. By some miracle, God brought me out of it with an incredibly simple reminder.
I love things that are simple and easy to remember. Unfortunately, we normally get so far from easy truths that are easy to learn and nod our heads to in the church pew. We rarely digest them and let simple truths take root in our hearts, where it matters far more than in our minds.
It started out like my last several birthdays…”I’m 35 and haven’t accomplished anything worthwhile in life…” etc It’s pure nonsense. However, I found the answer wasn’t in just ‘Stuart Smallying’ my way through it and convincing myself I was good enough, smart enough and doggone it people like me.
No, the answer was painfully simple and one that I’ve known and shared with others for quite some time. I’m valuable, not because of anything I do or contribute to other people’s lives, but simply because God values me. He calls me His child, and that’s all that matters.
If we use ourselves as a measure of value we will either end up with inflated and unwarranted egos or with despair about how awful we are, depending on your natural bent, among other factors.
However, if we focus on God as the only One whose opinion actually matters, it’s incredibly freeing, isn’t it? He calls us His children. I don’t know any good Dad who doesn’t take incredible delight in their child.
Even if I never contributed anything to society or those around me or never did in the future, it truly wouldn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. I have value because of Whose I am, not because of what I do.
Now, if I can just stay focused on that fact instead of the annual self-reflection/freak-out session known as my birthday, I should be good :)
