You Are Special

Anyone watching me walk might have wondered what I found so funny at such an early hour. We were in Oklahoma, and I awoke predawn, taking to the streets while all were asleep in the house. That was when my daughter-in-law, Kayla, sent me a Facetime call. Our granddaughter, Stella,  was up early too, as children are prone to do, despite their parents’ wishes. Stella was in rare form, full of a one-year-old’s energy, climbing on furniture, trying to ride the toy car Lori and I had just gotten her, but most of all, throwing me BIG grins. What PopPop wouldn’t laugh out loud with joy?

Our FactTime call lasted only a few minutes, giving me a little extra bounce in my step because this particular call was specifically for me. I texted shortly afterward: “Thanks for the FaceTime call, (it) made me feel special!”

“You are special!!!” Kayla texted back. 

Later, I reread my text. “You made me feel special,” I had written, and Kayla’s response: “You are special.” 

The fact is, I am uniquely me, whether I feel it or not. Kayla was right. People can express their kindness and love to us in caring ways, making us feel special, which is good. We should intentionally demonstrate the worth of others, but the truth is, our significance remains, regardless of what others may or may do for or think of us. 

Could you do me a favor right now? Find a mirror, look at yourself, and repeat this aloud: “I AM SPECIAL.” You are allowed to read further only once you do that. (Okay, just kidding, but really, do it, not for me but yourself.) Even if you’re hair’s a mess, or you have no hair left, or your face is wrinkly from sleeping on your pillow, say it anyway with meaning: “I AM SPECIAL.”

I can confidently say you are special, even though I may never know you. How can I be so sure? Because I believe what I learned as a child: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

For instance, in Psalm 139, the poet declares to God, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made,” and then continues, “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!” 

Feeling lost and unworthy? The Bible reminds us that Jesus came for the lost sheep (John 10:16) and that he holds his followers so firmly in the palm of his hand that nothing and nobody can extract them from his grip (John 10:29). That’s how important we are to him. And Peter declared to God’s people, “You are a special people” (I Peter 2:9). 

It’s true: you are special, not because I or someone may or may not make you feel it, but because you are. As you look in that mirror, you might imagine you’ve cracked it, so messed up you believe yourself to be. You feel broken beyond repair. That’s okay. That’s the honest admission of all who aren’t perfect, and therein lies the hope. As the late Reverend Timothy Keller said, “You’re more sinful than you ever dared believe, but you’re more loved and accepted in Christ than you ever dared hope.”

So, are you ready? Look at your tarnished reflection and declare, “I AM SPECIAL.” Then go live it because you are.

You are, you really are. 

The Bible tells me so.