December is one of those months. More accurately said, it is probably THE month. The month in which we cram every tradition, good deed, and expression of appreciation. The month that we reach out to old friends and connect with new friends. The month we shop, wrap, bake, deliver, visit, and celebrate. It is THE month.
Which got me to thinking.
About a stable. And a star. A quiet, little family. A few shepherds. And, a Savior.
How simple and how still.
And yet, we seem to commemorate it in such contrast to how it all began.
So.
I decided to slow down a little, and watch.
And I saw a few things.
I saw my children serving one another. I saw occasions to extend a hand to my husband in new ways that meant something to him. I saw smiles and laughter. I saw moments that made my heart leap. I saw lonliness to lessen. I saw gratitude and joy. I saw grief shared and eased.
I saw love, simply given.
It was a beautiful Christmas for our family, and one of our most treasured months.
The interesting thing is that in my decision to slow down, I also became less of a contributor and more of a spectator to online connections and communications. And, what I noticed surprised me a little bit.
It is this.
How much so many of us search for reassurance.
I read beautifully written blog posts about being amazing stay-at-home moms, loving the bodies that we are in, parenting in ways that enrich and reach our children, balancing delicately the demands of jobs that we love and homes that we are intrical in, shaping up for the new year, trying the latest and healthiest recipes, dealing with our greatest disappointments, and so much more.
I never really saw it before, in all my Facebook posts, blog posts, Instagram posts, texts, and emails, but it is there.
I put it out there, and reassurance comes back to me. Reassurance that I am good. That I am fun, and loving, and successful, and beautiful, and courageous.
It isn't a bad thing. I love to be reassured. In fact, like most of you, I'm never really asking for it, but it is a pleasure when it arrives.
It just got me to thinking, though.
Do I write, do I post, because I already feel positive, or even supportive of myself, and I am just loving the ability to share that with all of you? Or, am I really searching?
Imagine if we turned it around. If we didn't need reassurance from each other.
Imagine if we already had it.
Assurance.
Reassurance is the "action of removing someone's doubts and fears", assurance is the "confidence or certainty in one's own abilities, and a positive declaration intended to give us confidence."
What if, before every post, we already had assurance? Assurance in who we are and what we are capable of. Assurance that we are enough.
Would it change the dynamic of social media sights?
I wonder.
I believe that there are three most important things that we can all have assurance in.
First, that we are of worth. Not because of what we do, who we look like, or where we come from, but simply, because we are us. Our existence, our individuality, our own inner selves. We are remarkable, just because… We. Are.
Second, that we all are capable of being loved. Acts 17:27-28 "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us: For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring." He loves us. God's love is infinite and eternal. He doesn't demand perfection, only that we become perfect in Him. In His love.
And, last, that we all have the great ability to do good. The real kind of good that comes in simple doses. The kind of good that matters.
A conviction of these three things will fill us. It will be enough for us. It will allow us to grieve better, struggle better, improve in more gentle ways, and rejoice with greater fulness.
This is my reassurance for you.
YOU are of phenomenal worth. YOU are loved. YOU do so much good.
Rest assured.
No matter how small the bird, or how big the plane, FLIGHT is always astounding, and YOU are soaring beautifully.
