Corinthians 2:9, 10

Corinthians 2:9, 10
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.

We have been made complete.  What a concept.  Aren't we always trying to change ourselves?  Or are we just trying to better ourselves?  What are the pressures of society that make us feel like we are not enough?  We are bombarded with images, slogans, and advertisements filled with people we are supposed to try to be more like.  We are constantly being told we are not thin enough, smart enough, rich enough.  Is there anything telling us we are just plain good enough?  I'm sure there is...but in Him we know that He created us complete.  We are one whole person, and trying to bring your better qualities to the forefront is fine, in fact, isn't that what we should strive for on a daily basis?  However, trying to change to conform to society's demands on us is not what He created us for.

As an adult I put far less emphasis on that which society tells me I should be.  I don't listen to what other's claim to be my shortcomings.  But as a teen, this was something that bogged me down daily.  I was never enough.  I was lucky though, technology was not yet part of everyone's daily life.  There were no cell phones for teenagers, no social media sites to be exploited or bullied on.  Our teenagers today face a struggle I cannot comprehend.  With the power of the internet and the ability to instantly share with hundreds of people, our teenagers are constantly having to be mindful of themselves, which we all know, can be a difficult task at times.  What other years in your life can the worst possible decisions be made?  These are children trying to figure out who they are and mistakes should be expected, discussed and corrected rather than posted for all to gloat at.

Behind the image of a computer or smart phone there is a sense of anonymity that removes the author from the message.  We feel not just capable but righteous in our judgment of others.  And behind a computer we can judge others and send out our opinions about one another without seeing the hurt on the other persons face.  The technology removes the humanity from who we are attacking while at the same time removing the humanity from ourselves.  Before making a statement about another, wouldn't it be nice if we asked ourselves, "Would I say that to them?  Would I look at their face and make those opinions known?"  As an adult we put less interest in what others opinions are of us and come to understand that the only judge who truly matters is Him.  He is our only judge.  When all is said and done, He is the only one we need to explain ourselves to. 

I encourage my children to be kind to everyone.  My six year old said to me, "Well you can be mean but only if they are mean first."  I responded with, "No sweetheart.  We choose to be kind to everyone even if they choose not to be."  I want my children to be kind and have compassion for those around them.  I want them to understand it is never ok to make another person feel bad.  I also tell my children not to judge other people's abilities, that we all have strengths and we all have things we are trying to improve.  It's ok that not everyone has the same strengths and weaknesses, that's what makes the world so beautiful.  I am also trying to instill in my children self confidence, to not concern themselves with the opinions of others.  I say to them constantly, "When you know the truth in your heart, it doesn't matter what someone else says."  My six year old was crying on the way home from school this last spring and when I asked her why she said, "Jenny told me my tights aren't blue."  I looked at her blue tights, then looked at her and said, "What other color could they be?  Would you be crying if she said the sky was green?  No.  You know the truth in your heart, don't worry what she says."

Please God help me to be kind and generous and to ignore society's demands and judgments.  Thank you for your light and your love guiding me today.

Thanks for reading!

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