You Are Enough!

"I am pleased with you, my child.  Allow yourself to become fully aware of My pleasure shining upon you.  You don't have to perform well in order to receive my love." -Jesus Calling

You are altogether beautiful, my darling, there is no flaw in you. - Song of Songs 4:7

Today is the day.  It is the day throughout our nation and many parts of the world when so many are preparing to ring in the new year.  It is the day we will reflect over 2018 and begin to gaze, with great anticipation, at the new year before us. Indeed, today is THE DAY.

I don't know about you, but for me, the days leading up to today have been kinda' weird.  I read this phrase recently, and it truly summarizes how I've been feeling:  "That bit between Christmas and New Year's when you don't know what day it is, who you are, and what you're supposed to be doing..."

Thankfully, in today's society, we don't have to look very far to figure out what we're "supposed to be doing."  My e-mails the past few days have reminded me that I need more makeup, and I'm not using the best shampoo.  Further e-mails suggest if I were a really good pet-owner, I would begin a new regimen of trimming my dog's toe nails all by myself with a good pair of illuminated toe nail clippers JUST for dogs.  The tv advertisements reminded me that now is the time to be "just like Larry" who has already lost 254 pounds. Yowza!!!

One of my favorite gifts this Christmas was the Fitbit Ionic watch.  I am a little late to the fitness watch family.  However, I felt tremendous accomplishment yesterday when my exercise partner and me reviewed all our stats.  Our 4.75 mile journey contained many steps and burned lots of calories.  To my surprise, my fancy watch displayed a message less than an hour later notifying me it was time to move and get in more steps.  Seriously?!?  I may have uttered just a few bad words.   I imagine leaving my home to buy more makeup, better shampoo and illuminated dog clippers would make my watch happy again.  For one solid hour, I would be doing enough.

Indeed, as we approach this day, and so many days, the worldly message can cast a dark shadow over our lives and pierce our hearts/souls with 4 words: "You are not enough."  If we are not careful, this feeling can consume us.  As I prepared this writing, I sat in one of my favorite chairs near the glow of my Christmas tree.  On this day, the lights gently reminded me of this beautiful reality:  In His light, you are enough.  In His light, I am enough.  As Song of Songs eloquently states, we are flawless in His eyes.  As the lyrics of a Mercy Me song illustrate,

"No matter what they say,

or What you think you are,

The day you called His name,

He made you flawless."

Today, draw nearer to your Almighty Father.  Silence the worldly noise.  Celebrate your beautiful worth in the eyes of the one who matters.  You are enough!  Amen.