By: Juliandra Durkin
“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” –Kathryn Stockett, The Help
Life lessons to a two year old that I need to remember… what a great quote! Has anyone else seen or read The Help? Over and over throughout the story, Aibileen, one of the main characters, tries to ingrain this message to the little girl she looks after, Mae Mobley, that she is worth something. Mae Mobley, though a little girl, get’s her heart broken by her own mother, who ignores and is distant from her daughter throughout the story.
I was feeling distant from God recently and praying through it, this quote came to mind. It’s like God held me on His lap for a second just like Aibileen held Mae Mobley in The Help, to remind me that I am kind, smart, and important.
After the quote from The Help came to mind, I prayed again and I asked God “Why?” What makes me so kind, smart, and important? So quickly, and so gently, He brought a Bible verse to mind, that’s far more relevant than any fictional story and full of so much truth. I was kinda blown away. Read it with me now…
“From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us.” Acts 17:26-27
Wow. Can you believe that Paul wrote this in Acts over 2,000 years ago?!
God determined the time frame of history and what country you and I were to live and grow up in, all so that we might seek Him where we are in time and space.
To me, this speaks of GREAT purpose and intentionality that God has with how He created each and every person in the history of humanity.
The family you were born into matters. The city or town you grew up in matters. The culture you came from, your nationality, and the fact that you are alive in year 2016 matters.
YOU MATTER!!!
It might sound silly, but my day-dreamy, lover of the past, historical-fiction reading self, always thought I would make a great girl in the 50’s wearing poodle skirts, drinking milkshakes in diners, and going to drive in theaters like in the movie Grease. But that didn’t happen. God made me to grow up now, in the 90’s and beyond, because He has purpose for me in this time period, with the family He put me in, to have influence as a woman in today’s world, ultimately to seek Him, reach for Him, and go after Him.
I can get caught in a spiral of thinking God made a mistake in how He made me. It is SO easy to romanticize a past I never lived or dream of a better tomorrow. If only I were… wealthier, healthier, smarter, from another country, etc. If only I like politics more. If only I wasn’t confused about gender roles today. If only this, if only that… it could go on forever!
But those “if only’s” don’t matter in the end when we are kind, smart, and important now. When we are chosen and recognize we have a destiny for the Lord today.
Your family. Your heritage. Your country of origin. Your culture… It ALL matters to God because He destined that it would be so. He wanted YOU to seek Him where you are sitting today. He wanted YOU to know Him in this modern world. He wanted YOU to call out to Him when the days are confusing and harsh, AND beautiful and joy-filled.
I don’t know if you are going through a break up, or health problems, or are the victim of abuse, or if you simply partied too hard last night and have a hangover and feel guilty about it… All that matters is that you see Jesus, through it all and know your value to Him today.
YOU ARE KIND, SMART and IMPORTANT. He made you and destined a path for you. So reach out and seek Him today.
Why do you think God made you for today?
Juliandra Durkin is the manager for Wonderfully Made’s blog Know Your Value. She also writes at Written Jewels, a personal blog with stories and reflections on life. Besides writing, she spends her free time exercising or out in nature. Give her a beach or a mountain; sunrise or sunset, she loves it all, especially walking her dogs in the woods! A graduate of Westmont College, Juliandra was able to attend three study abroad programs exploring Spain, parts of the Middle East, and Mexico. These experiences gave her a heart for culture and travel and she hopes to get more stamps in the passport soon!
