Feel Special

 

A few weeks ago, my husband and I embarked on a new adventure. This time we headed to Italy, Croatia, and Montenegro. A trip filled with history, beauty, architecture and, dare I say, incredible food!  Each time we headed into a new city, we would get a ‘lay of the land’ by taking a tour – sharing with us the important sites so that we may walk around by ourselves, exploring all the beauty and understanding its significance.  As we indulged in it all, I could not help but hear the tour guides define historical events in these cities as BC, Before Christ or AD, Anno Domini (in the year of our Lord), or after Jesus was born.

Each time they shared these times in that way; my thoughts immediately took me to our Savior and His birth. No, it is not Christmas, but to hear the world define their history by the One who has defined my life, well, it seemed to take on an entirely unique perspective.  Over and over again, I could hear the history of earth being defined by the history of heaven.

I cannot help but think how the Jesus who loves me, who considers me His own, who knows my past transgressions and still loves me like no other, also defined the world as we know it. I feel privileged to be a child of God. I felt special during those moments as the tour guide was talking, and I continue to feel that honor. Jesus considers me His child when the entire world is using His birth to define it. “Wow” does not seem to cover it!

Oddly enough, I did not feel small in those moments.  I did not feel as if I was something insignificant compared to all of the history around me and my Lord that defined that history! I did not feel unworthy of His attention; I know I will always have it.  I truly felt blessed, gifted by knowing the One that defined history genuinely loves me.  Friends, our Lord has blessed us with the uniqueness of individuality. Walking the streets of Venice I heard at least four different languages. All different, yet we as Christians know that we are all the same. We are all loved by our God, the One who loves us unconditionally.

Take a moment and soak in the reality that the One who defined time and history is the One who loves each of us, our uniqueness, and our sameness. He knows who we are, what we have done, and loves us regardless. Revel in that greatness and feel special.

Dearest Jesus, the One who defines history, thank you for the love you pour upon me. Thank you for loving me despite all I have done wrong and making me feel special. Amen!