I am a STAR!

Deep within each of us a star shines. It is the light that, when it finally breaks through the fog and haze of self-doubt, causes each of us to know that he or she is a child of God and is special.

Each of us was sent to earth to be a "star" -- to be someone special. Some never really come to fully believe that. Thus their light remains hidden by the midst and clouds of inferior feelings and the lack of faith in themselves and in God.

But there is a special place for each of us in our Heavenly Father's plan. We are not in competition with anyone else but only with oursleves. When we come to know that we are special, that does not disqualify anyone else from the same distinction. For all the sons and daughters of God are special.

-George Durrant, 1976.

I have been doing a lot of reading lately. It seems as if someone is trying to tell me something . . . the theme of "being special" seems to keep popping up, right in front of me. I used to have the same feelings about being special as the boy Dash in The Incredibles:

Helen: Dashiell Robert Parr, you are an incredibly competitive boy, and a bit of a show-off. The last thing you need is temptation.
Dash: You always say 'Do your best', but you don't really mean it. Why can't I do the best that I can do?
Helen: Right now, honey, the world just wants us to fit in, and to fit in, we gotta be like everyone else.
Dash: But Dad always said our powers were nothing to be ashamed of, our powers made us special.
Helen: Everyone's special, Dash.
Dash: [muttering] Which is another way of saying no one is.

If everyone is special, that means no one is . . . right??

I used to feel that way. How can everyone be special?? How can I be special?

But now that I am a mother of 3 children (soon to be 4), I can easily see how each and every one of my children are indeed "special". They are each unique, and wonderful, and they have their own individual talents and abilities -- abilities they seem to have been sent to earth with. I adore each one of them. I stand in awe of what they can do. I marvel at their being alive, and them just being them. It is clear to me that they are special. They are special to me. They are my little "stars". I love to watch them shine.

As a mother it makes it MUCH EASIER to see how each and every one of God's children are special and unique, with their own set of talents and abilities. We are all very special to God. We are His. We are His children. We are special just because we are who we are. We are special because we exist. We are special because we were made special . . . no running from it! Why hide under a cloud of self-gloom when God wants to see us shine?!

I will be the first to admit that it is often self-doubt that keeps me from being the best I can be. I admit that my insecurities, and imperfections -- can keep me from shining as brightly as I can. But it does not have to be that way. Self-doubt can only exist if I LET IT. If I really want to, I could wake-up in the morning, jump out of bed and say, "TA-DA! Here I am world!" I do not have to commence in doing something heroic, Earth-changing, or stage-worthy, to be special -- I just have to be happy to be alive, grateful to live another day, and thrilled to be ME! I believe good will naturally flow from such an attitude.

I am special. I am unique. I am talented. I don't have to proove anything to anyone in order to feel, or to be special. I don't even have to keep up with anyone else. I just have to be me.

God made me. I am His. I am special. I am a star.

And so are you!!