Defining Worth...

Recently the kids and I started rereading "The Jesus Storybook Bible -- Every Story Whispers His Name" by Sally Lloyd-Jones in the mornings.  I came across the line, "God saw all that He had made and He loved them.  And they were lovely because He loved them. (25)" 

And I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

 That line stuck with me because lately I've been thinking about the origin of my worth... or should I say the things I think make me valuable, important, or maybe just OKAY!  I focus a lot on what people think of me, what I do, or how I perform.  To be honest sometimes I find I'm thinking these lies... "If I am a GOOD Mom -- then maybe I am okay?"  "If I can be a GOOD Wife -- then maybe I am valuable?" "If my kid is doing well, then maybe I am doing well?" "If other people like me -- then I must be okay?" (They may seem like statements, but the question marks are intentional!)

What if I truly believed I was lovable because God made me (Period)?  His love is the source of my worth -- He DEFINES my worth (PERIOD)!  I want to understand this with all my heart (I'm not there yet), and I want that reality to trickle down to my kids... so that they understand that they are lovable and valuable because their worth is PURELY defined by their CREATOR!

"God loved them with all of His heart.  And they were lovely because He loved them (Lloyd-Jones 26)."

"God looked at everything He had made. "Perfect!" He said.  And it was.  But all the stars and the mountains and oceans and galaxies and everything were nothing compared to how much God loved His children.  He would move heaven and earth to be near them.  Always.  Whatever happened, whatever it cost Him, He would always love them (Lloyd-Jones, 27)."