The world will label you all your life. Tall, short, smart, bossy, ugly, pretty, worth it, and not. But here is the only label that truly matters: “Now this is what the Lord says – the one who created you, Jacob, the one who formed you, Israel – Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; YOU ARE MINE.” Isaiah 43:1 ~ by Raechel Meyers devotional excerpt from SheReadsTruthBible {emphasis mine}
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I read this devotional excerpt and thoughts began to bounce around my brain.
I admit I too often need this reminder. I need reminded of Who I belong to, Who knows MY name and calls me by it, Whose opinion matters, Who my foundation and confidence are in, Who has the only right to label me, Who loved me before anyone else, Who created me in my mother’s womb, Who gave His very Son’s lifeblood to cover my sins, erase my failures, face off with my fears and blaze vibrant victory all over this life of mine.
All because I belong to Him!
It reminds me of Punchinello. A little wooden Wemmick who lives in Wemmicksville.
You’ll find him in “You Are Special” by Max Lucado. It’s a children’s book I absolutely love! It gets me every time.
Because if there’s one thing the Wemmicks are good at, it’s labels!
They go around sticking stickers on each other. If you’re beautiful or talented or always get it right, they stick shiny star stickers on you. But if you trip or say something silly or aren’t so pretty or have rough wood, they label you with dot stickers.
Stars and dots. Dots and stars.
Basically representing other’s opinions. All stuck right tight on YOU.
And I always, always resonate with Punchinello, ‘cause yes, you guessed it, he’s mostly given dots. And you know, when we’re labeled something long enough we start to believe it. And those lies or dots or whatever it is, sit there and start to spread, and hidden in the shadows, the devil he grins to himself because we’re starting to forget Who we belong to and what our original label says. And when I get to thinking about it, it really starts to make me angry that the devil can pull this on me. Not only getting me to believe the labeled lies stuck on me, but he gets me caught up in doling out my own messy labels to others. Ridiculous!
Enter Lucia. Punchinello is intrigued when he meets her. She has no stars or dots!! People will run up and try to give her a star because she has no dots. But it falls off. It won’t stick.
Others go to give her a dot because she has no stars. It falls to the ground, too.
Punchinello is amazed! He wants to know the secret.
“The stickers only stick if you let them,” Lucia tells him.
Huh????? How can that be? The stickers only stick if you LET them????
“You have to go and visit The Maker,” Lucia adds. “To talk to Him and spend time with Him.” Eli is the wood-carver of the Wemmicks. Lucia goes to visit him everyday. She invites Punchinello to go along with her and meet him.
Punchinello agrees to go with her. He doesn’t know if Eli will really want to see him.
But, the wood-carver is delighted to see Punchinello. And He tells him so.
He tells Punchinello he is special to the wood-carver because the wood-carver made him. He tells him what the others think don’t matter. He tells him to keep coming to visit him. Everyday.
“You are special, he says, “Because I made you.”
I love the last lines in the book.
As Punchinello walks out the door, he thinks to himself, “You know, I think he really means it.” And as he does a dot falls to the ground.
I love the love of our Creator God this story represents.
Because, you know………………..
Redeemed ~ it’s the only label we need.
Jenni says
💟
deborah says
Right back at ya! 🙂
Danyel says
This is a wonderful reminder! To often I get stuck in that muddy rut of what others think of me. I am slowly learning to let that go and focus on “What does God think of me? Of my actions? Of my thoughts?” That is what matters. We live for HIM, not them.
Keep up the encouragement, sister! I am so thankful for you, your encouragement, and your dedication to Christ. Praying for you always!
deborah says
Thank-YOU for your sweet and kind words. You have no idea how much they bless and encourage ME!!
Thank-you too, so very, very much for prayers. I absolutely appreciate people praying for me so deeply. It is a gift. Redeemed in Christ, but still struggle daily! 🙂
Have a great week!
Robin Revis Pyke says
Love your post Deborah! Your words remind me the importance to use my words to build up and encourage. I’m going to share the phrase, “The stickers only stick if you let them!” Thank you for sharing this delightful story!
Lori at Encourage Your Spouse says
Ah – one of our favorite books! (You’ve reminded me that I have yet to get this for our grandboy!)
But it’s not just for kids – you’ve made this clear! I think we need to read this to ourselves, our spouses, our adult children, and all those we love. Yes. “redeemed” – that’s our label!
Lori at Encourage Your Spouse recently posted…Encourage and Motivate – 21 Things to say to your husband or wife