Sticks & Stones

Was talking to a good friend last night about this journey we have all been on the past few weeks. I told her about choosing to dance like nobody's watching. She said "Michelle, you hate to dance. And besides that, you're terrible at it. I've seen you." I tried to explain the figurative meaning of the phrase, but the explanation was lost on her. "No really, Michelle. You're awful". Ouch. Bear in mind this is one of my best friends telling me this. You know what? I believed her. She complimented me later in our conversation... but I can't remember what she said. It's exactly like Scott said on Sunday about how we can receive a hundred compliments and ignore them but we hear one criticism or negative thing, and we carry it with us. Her words echoed in my mind all day today "You're terrible, you're awful". It gave me a sick feeling of satisfaction to know that she had validated what I so often feel about myself. Now I just feel sick. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Yeah right.
It's time to cut the crap. I'm tired of only hearing the negative. I'm not awful. I'm a child of God. What's it going to take for all of us to stop listening to the world, and start listening to the Father who loves us so much that he counts every hair on our head?
"How precious are your thoughts about me, oh God! They are innumerable! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me!" (Psalm 139:17-18) God thinks about each one of us all the time. He thinks we're wonderful, amazing, lovable people. Ya know what? I think He's right.