Recently i was reintroduced to the children’s book entitled “You Are Special” by Max Lucado. The story is about little wooden people who are called “Wemmicks”. Wemmicks spend their days scurrying about sticking gold stars on those who are pretty and talented, or gray dots on those who make mistakes. But on this particular day in the story, the stickering is all the more important because the Festival is at hand. The envied “Most Stars Award” and the dreaded “Most Dots Award” are about to be given out. Poor Punchinello is sure to be a shoo-in for the Most Dots. But thanks to a new friend, he is about to learn a very important lesson that no matter how others may judge our worth, God cherishes each of us just as we are.
That is a lesson we would all do well to remember. We live in a world that is obsessed with awarding stars and conferring dots, and we distribute them abundantly, utilizing all the means at our disposal. Social media has become our most preferred mode of rendering our judgement of stars or dots to the extent that we judge worth based upon the number of “likes” or “follows”. As a writer, i seek more 5-star reviews. As a blogger, i hope to have an increasing number of likes, shares and follows. As a pastor/teacher, i value affirming feedback. But i am in peril when i allow the “stars” or the absence thereof to define my worth. Because the stars, the likes, the follows and the dots will come and go. Physical beauty may dim. Success may fade. Talent may pass away. But there is one thing that will last forever.
You were created by God. Unlike any other thing that He created, you were created in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). Every person has been stamped with His image. Every person is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Every person has been uniquely created. Each one of us is His workmanship. Each one of us is valued by our Creator. Each one of us is loved by our Creator (John 3:16). Each one of us was created on purpose for His purpose (Ephesians 2:10).
Your Creator has plans for you – “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). Your Creator has a purpose for you – and He will fulfill it (Psalm 57:2). He gave His Word that you might know Him. He sent His Son to redeem you. He sent His Spirit to empower you. Because you are special to Him.
Your Creator knows your sorrow and extends His comfort. Your Creator hears your cry and extends His compassion. Your Creator sees your pain and extends His strength. Because you are special to Him.
To a world that is demonstrating less kindness, He extends the gift of His kindness. To a world that is showing less mercy, He extends the gift of His mercy. To a world that is infrequently bestowing grace, He extends the gift of His grace (Titus 3:4-7). To a world that is lost in sin, He extends the gift of His salvation. Because you are special to Him.
“Stars” and “dots” will fade away. But the favor of His kindness, mercy, grace and salvation will last forever, because we are special to Him.
In Heaven’s Eyes
A fervent prayer rose up to heaven
A fragile soul is losing ground
Sorting through the earthly babel
Heaven heard the sound
This was a life of no distinction
No successes, only tries
Yet gazing down on this unlovely one
There was love in heaven's eyes
In heaven's eyes there are no losers
In heaven's eyes no hopeless cause
Only people like you with feelings like me
Amazed by the grace we can find
In heaven's eyes
The orphaned child, the wayward father
The homeless traveler in the rain
When life goes by and no one bothers
Heaven feels the pain
Looking down, God sees each heartache
Knows each sorrow, hears each cry
And looking up we'll see compassion's fire
Ablaze in heaven's eyes
In heaven's eyes, there are no losers
In heaven's eyes, no hopeless cause
Only people like you with feelings like me
Amazed by the grace we can find
In heaven's eyes, there are no losers
In heaven's eyes, there is no hopeless cause
There's only people like you with feelings like me
And we're amazed by the grace we can find
In heaven's eyes
By Sandi Patty © 1988