YOU and I ARE VERY SPECIAL PERSONS INDEED!
Today’s Message of Encouragement from Discovering a BETTER LIFE MINISTRIES
(Stories of Real People, Real Events, Real Places)
And are dedicated to HELPING
PEOPLE FIND PEACE and HOPE
(John 10:10)
(April 1st, 2020)
YOU and I ARE VERY
SPECIAL PERSONS INDEED!
Friend, Nathaniel Branden, in his book, "The Psychology of Self-Esteem," writes that our sense of self-worth depends on two factors.
First, self-esteem involves a sense of self-confidence. Each of us desperately desire to believe that our lives are useful. Most of us think that if we can be successful at something – like running the marathon, or earning a degree. Like becoming wealthy, or having our names in a prominent place, that such achievements tell us we are winners! In our minds, we convince ourselves that surely others will believe we are gifted.
This seems to be what status symbols are all about, that they prove we are achievers!
Second, our self-esteem is tied up with our values and standards. Unfortunately, many of us have a tendency to believe that we must “measure up.” Branden says, “Every human being judges themselves by some standard; and to the extent that we fail to satisfy that standard, our sense of personal worth, our self-respect, suffers accordingly.”
In response to those two factors, all of us need to ask ourselves some tough questions. Have I been the kind of mother or father I should have been? Have I lived up to the standards I have set for myself in business? Obviously some of us are more aware of these questions than others.
Sometimes, if we sense we do not “measure up” we tend to create problems for ourselves as well as others. The popularity of Archie Bunker’s TV program some years ago resulted from the way we identified with him.
Archie Bunker was simply a bigot with an unlimited supply of prejudices. If we probe deeper, a reason for Archie’s pettiness emerges. The fact is, he does not believe in himself. He does not have an education that will allow him to move up in the company. On the other hand, his neighbours keep moving up and moving out. So he desperately tries to put them down, hoping that this will mean he is “somebody!”
It is obvious that some people show their lack of self-esteem by hating those who are threats to them. Others react in a neurotic attempt to do better. They become perfectionists who are never satisfied with their work, their parenting, or their success level in life. They feel that by driving themselves harder, they can win recognition.
Therefore, a student or the businessman may push him or herself to the point of exhaustion trying to be “somebody!”
In Tennessee William’s play, A Streetcar Named Desire, a woman named Blanche moves in with her sister. At first Blanche appears impressive. She tells everyone of her success on the stage and in society.
But little by little her sister begins to discover that Blanche is a phony. She made up the success stories. She is actually down on her luck and has been living as a prostitute. She had simply created this fantasy world because she couldn’t live with what she had become.
Friend, fantasy is a common way to deal with a lack of self-esteem. That’s why a businessman might boast constantly about his success. Or a military man might remind you repeatedly of his heroic acts. The frustrated mother might begin to live in a dream world, reliving her high school days.
Sadly, many people create a fantasy world because they cannot stand what they have become. The truth is we all have a deep need to be somebody. And what we seem to want most, is for someone else to tell us that we matter. If someone else believes it, perhaps we can believe it too.
In a popular fairy tale, a carpenter named Geppetto creates a wooden puppet who he names Pinocchio. His creation comes to life with all the characteristics of a human little boy, except that he is made of wood. This causes all kinds of personality problems for Pinocchio.
Not being sure of himself, his difficulty is in many ways similar to ours. Because he is different from others, he has problems of self-esteem.
Confused about his identity, he turns to the kindly Geppetto, the craftsman who had created him. And he says to Geppetto, “Poppa, if I’m all right with you, then I’m all right with me.”
Friend, in a profound way, Pinocchio speaks for each of us!
In a time when we seem to be reduced to numbers on a computer, we are crying out for someone to recognize us as persons. We want assurance that our life counts for something. However, our attempt to build self-esteem may end in failure. In reality, the missing piece to the puzzle of our achieving self-esteem is the realization that we are God’s creatures.
Friend, each of us are created in God’s image and regardless of race, or nationality, appearance or talent, we are “all right” with God and He desires fellowship with us because we are the crown of His creation.
The wonderful thing is we do not have to conform to someone else’s idea of value; we are valuable because we belong to God! You see, according to God’s standards each of us is “someone special!”
Friend, it may be true, that the values of our culture may scorn the average person. However, God’s values are different!
I like the words of T. S. Eliot, who wrote:
“. . . There is something in us
In all of us which isn’t just heredity,
But something unique! Something we have been
From eternity! Something that is straight from God!”
Friend, Jesus saw something special in everyone He met. And He sees something special in you and me! As the apostle Paul wrote, “. . . God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This is the ultimate proof that you and I are very special persons indeed!
As you reflect on what I’ve shared with you today, I sincerely hope you have been convinced that you really are a very special person. In fact, you’re a tremendous person!
However, if you need any further reassurance about how special you are, simply write to Discovering A BETTER LIFE and request our small booklet titled “You are Someone Special!”
To receive your complimentary copy of this booklet, simply address your request to:
P.O. Box 1540, Albany, Western Australia 6331
Phone us on: 98 418 418 or E-mail us at: abl-alb@omninet.net.au
Friend!, You are permitted—in fact, encouraged—to pass along any of our Daily messages to those you feel will benefit from them. Just click on the “Forward to a Friend” button.
Your participation in this way makes this “our” ministry instead of “my” ministry.
If you find anything here that brings you, or those with whom you share these messages into a closer relationship with the Lord, we praise God and thank Him for permitting our paths to cross.
Thank you for taking the time to read today’s message. We hope you will visit us again.
Ron Bainbridge
Co-ordinator of:
コメント