He said so and that is all that matters...

If I had a hundred rand note and offered it to you, surely you would want it? If I stomped on it, surely you'd still want it? crumpled it up, still want it? yes! yes! yes! cos the worth of it doesn't change if the exterior changes. Same is true of us!

Having experienced losing someone in my lifetime I realised the brevity of life. I have also learnt how important relationships are! I've realised that saying 'I love you' can leave an impression for a lifetime. Just hours before my African mother passing before I walked out the house I told her I loved her. Some things are better left unspoken and some things are just better spoken. I didn't have unspoken words to say. She knew that I loved her and that makes me happy.

After this loss in my life I have placed so much importance on relationships. Sometimes to the point of irritating myself because I can't find enough people to love or lets say the right people to love. This has also lead to the point that I put a lot of my worth on who loves me.

A few months ago I had the realisation that I am not defined by what I do. Whether I am a cashier, fashion buyer, lawyer or a CEO my worth doesn't change. I am not any less a creative person whether I draw today or not! At this stage in my life God is showing me that I am not any less/more worthy or beautiful if people noticed me or not! Monday I was on such a high from doing all the things that I love doing (dressing prettily, reading, drinking coffee, chatting, sewing) to an absolute melt down. I had made plans with someone that I really enjoy and at the last minute they cancelled. My heart felt shattered. This is when I realised just how much importance and urgency I put on relationships.

After thinking through it yesterday I realised I am not defined by people. True security comes from God and what He says about me. He thinks I'm cool and that is all that really sticks.

Just the other day I watched a very sad video on elephants being mistreated by a South African circus. Whilst watching this I was reminded of the true beauty of these animals. A few years ago I spent some time touching elephants at a nearby game lodge. It was a surreal experience: these huge creatures exude such gentleness. Anyway back to this video: although the elephants were being beaten they continued to be gentle and forgiving. Apparently elephants are emotional animals and yet these elephants still show gentleness even if their feelings are hurt, what an inspiration! Even if these elephants are treated badly doesn't make them any less beautiful, inspirational and amazing.

There is a scripture that says "a gentle and quiet spirit of great value to God" (1 pet 3v3). Men might not see your value or might not value your gentle and quiet nature but God does. In the quietness (when others aren't praising you) God is there. Another verse (col 3:22) encourages us to work as if we are working for God and not for man. When God made man he said, 'it is very good'. He didn't wait for man to do something to say that. Just being was 'very good'. The same is true today. Whether we do something amazing or not our worth is fixed. Whether others notice us ( because we are quiet and gentle like an elephant) our worth is secure. God says we are amazing, 'fearfully and wonderfully made'.

Some more things that God says about you:
You are loved, he loved us first
we are His children
We are His bride
We are favoured
We are chosen
We have a hope and a future
We are sons and daughters of the most High.

"If God is for us, who really can be against us?"
He said so and that is all that matters.


Enjoy your day you beautiful human being!


Love,
Sarah ***