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“Finding My Identity, Growing In Self-Esteem”
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Abby, our program manager, writes:
The other night I caught myself cleaning the house, and during one of my many breaks, a song by Ginny Owens came on called “True Story.” It’s one of my favorites, but I hardly ever really listened to the lyrics.
The chorus melted my heart. I must admit, it made me say “Oh wow.”
You see my imperfections
Still You say I’m a masterpiece
A marvelous reflection
The image of Yourself in me
You paint with strokes of grace
Undoing my disguise
You say beauty lies in the true story
She nailed it right on! God sees all my imperfections: my stubborn mind, my doubting heart, my constant learning soul. Through it all, He sees His reflection.
He takes every label that I have placed on myself and slowly but surely He peels them apart till they are no more.
As a young child I dealt with self-esteem issues. Daughter of parents who were immigrants, I didn’t speak fluent English until the age of 11, my hair was a frizz ball and my clothes were often hand-me-downs.
In my parents attempt to have me in the best schools possible, I was always in schools where little girls had the latest brand-name clothing, had perfect smooth hair and could speak more than English, but also French.
As I grew older and was finally able to tame my wild hair, learn English to the point it became my first language and had a part time job where I was able to buy some clothes for school … I learned that I was never the daughter of immigrants, but the daughter of a mighty King.
It took me a bit to accept that. Geesh, I still deal with it today! It’s something that on a daily basis I have to remind myself of … that I have a God who loves every curl on my head, and then some. Amazing isn’t it?
Please note that the views expressed in this story are not necessarily the views of the American Bible Society. Story posted on April 4th, 2008 and filed under Team Corner, God's Love, Praise, Your Stories, Struggles.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Good one! I just posted something soooh similar today.
The verse that goes with my “Right Where You Are” post is:
The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. — 1 Kings 17:6
April 4th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Dear Abby, Program Manager:
You surely are “the daughter of a mighty King”–Jehovah, Who alone is the Lord, the Most High of all the earth. (Psalm 83:18).
I never cease to be enraptured in every human encounter–each person being “fearfully and wonderfully made,” an unique formation so fitted to excite wonder and inspire awe with reverent and devout feelings.
Your message is so apropos for us to reflect on our own inestimable self-worth, and thus to glorify the “Lord God Most High, Possessor of Heaven and Earth” (Genesis 14: 22); as well as to remember that since the day of Pentecost, we are also filled with the Holy Spirit to speak in our own tongues of the Mighty Deeds of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Acts 2:1-11).
Thank you.
May GOD ALL MIGHTY Bless you and yours;
GODSPEED, always and forevermore!
Mary Sun.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Dear Abby, Your words “He takes every label that I have placed on myself and slowly but surely He peels them apart till they are no more.” are right on target and so profound. We place so many labels and titles on ourselves that we forget we are called to be a Christian and not have a particular label define us. I praise God for how He takes the lyrics of a song and breathes life into them. Keep reminding yourself of the love of God who sees beyond our self imposed labels to right to the heart of the person.
Peace and blessings,
B. Michelle
April 7th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
There is not doubt that God is trying to bring us into the discovery of our true identity. There is power in this discovery of truth. Jesus said, that “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).
Our God not only want’s us to discover who Jesus is, but He also wants us to discover our true identity that is found in Him (John 15:5). Our identity is found when we abide in Him (Jn. 17:25-26).
Apart from Him, we can do nothing. May we all learn how to abide in the vine, and become all that he desires for us to become!
April 8th, 2008 at 7:41 am
It took a long time for me to really look in the mirror and recognize that who was staring back at me was someone that wasn’t “so bad.” Through life’s many twists and turns and after many falls and having to crawl back up, it finally smacked me in the head that. I had to come to terms with the fact that I was loved… unconditionally at that.