When my children were little… and fussy… and worried… and anxious… I’d hum a little tune that always made them feel better.
As small children their sweet little souls knew it and believed it with great fervor!
“Lead me, guide me, walk beside me…”
“I am a child of God” is the first religious lesson I teach my children. I teach them that He know them. He loves them. He wants what’s best for them. He wants them to be happy.
I’ve been more aware of an alarming trend in children and teens around me. They have forgotten the simple truths of this sweet tune.
What is it about mortality that makes us sometimes forget who we are? Why do we tend to place our worth upon material things, instead of living like children of God? Why do we buy the lie that we are not worth it.
So many of God’s children struggle… with deep sadness, despair, addictions, anxiety, and sin. I’ve been pondering and praying about why there is this trend to forget our infinite worth so easily.
Distraction!
“The more distractions that surround us, the easier it is to treat casually, then ignore, and then forget our connection with God.” – Donald L. Halestorm
Distractions come in all shapes and sizes. Distractions can be obvious, such as, pornography or drug addiction. Distractions can be more stealthy, like workaholic, school stress, cellphones, Netflix, or comparisons. I get it. Work is good. Education is good. Cellphones make staying connected a bit easier. Netflix allow for a break here and there. Working on a healthier body or keeping your appearance nice and tidy is good, but comparing body image or obsessing over designer clothing – all of these distractions – is becoming more important than our relationship with God.
This is a problem.
This evening my 14 year old said, “The worth of the soul is great in the eyes of God, but Satan only pays half price.”
Bam! I’ve done my job! She understands that she is of great worth because she is a child of God.
My worth is not determined by how many followers I have on Facebook, Instagram or this blog. My worth is not determined by the praise of others. My worth is not determined by my body size. What’s really important is God’s love for me and how I choose to show my love for Him in return.
I believe that “remember” is one of the most important words in scriptures. Whenever my kids leave the house I say, “remember who you are.” I’m sure they shake their heads or roll their eyes and think, “What a weirdo.”
Remembering who we are is everything! When I am feeling particularly blue I try to see myself through God’s eyes. When I am at a loss I know that I know one important thing… God loves me.
“Heavenly Father loves you – each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.” – Thomas S. Monson
We are God’s children! The world would be so different if EVERYONE REMEMBERED that truth! We would all see each other as brothers and sisters. We would love more freely. We would have more compassion for everyone. We would not judge someone based on their appearance or social status. We would look on the inside to define worth. We would discover that on the inside we are all the same.
We are children of God with infinite worth! And God paid full price!
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