The Slums
By Luann Prater
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14
When we decided to downsize, we considered townhomes in a nearby gated community.
There was one that had all the things we needed on the main floor with a couple of bedrooms upstairs and a walkout basement. This could work, we thought.
My hubby mentioned it to a friend who knew the area. His friend said, "You know that area is considered the 'slum' of the neighborhood, right?”
HUH? I was dumbfounded! I said, “I don't get it! Everything in that neighborhood is nice. Why would anyone say that?”
In the book “You Are Special” by Max Lucado, Max writes about how we put people into categories and then distribute love accordingly.
I remember being categorized in an email with a poem about ugly feet. It basically said, all girls with gnarly feet should not wear sandals and hurt the eyes of those around them.
I cried.
I've lived with a very large bunion on my right foot since I was a child. That little email took up residence in the recesses of my brain and I never wore sandals again.
Then one day I read Psalm 139. It says I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I glanced down at my foot and asked, "Except that, right Lord?"
He whispered, "Read it again."
The Hebrew word for "wonderfully made" is "Pala" and it means "to separate, distinguish, do wonderful things." God does things beyond the bounds of human powers.
I replied, “Really? I am wonderfully made? You have made me to be separated and distinguished to do wonderful things beyond human powers so that others can see You in me?”
Wow!
Let that sink in. Classifications do not adequately describe you. God's beautiful creations are never "gnarly" or "slums."
Let's start choosing to see others the way God sees them: fearfully & wonderfully made.
Lord, teach us to treat everyone with love. Remind us when we join into conversations that alienate Your precious children. In Jesus’ name, amen.
For more encouragement, visit luannprater.com.
© 2020 by Luann Prater. All rights reserved.
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