“The Lord prefers common-looking people. That is why he made so many of them.” ― Abraham Lincoln
Growing up I had a struggle with self-worth. It took me decades to overcome that. I lived under the misconception that I needed to fix myself, and that somehow by becoming perfect I would gain acceptance. There would be no reason for anyone to dislike or reject me. What I needed to learn was that common people have a mixture of strengths and weaknesses, all of which we must embrace.
I am just me. You are just you. We are somehow both unique and yet common. We are not invincible, but more like clay jars that wear out, or get cracks and chips. The scripture calls this a good thing, because it helps us to be humble and yet confident. Such an attitude leaves us open for God to pour his Spirit and power into us.
“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” – The Apostle Paul (2nd Corinthians 4:7)
Give God thanks for things about yourself that you discover going through your day. If something reveals your fragile nature, don’t curse it. Think of it as another aspect of the tapestry that is you. What seems to us to be flaws in our makeup are really what makes us unique and interesting.
Give thanks that God has blessed a common person like you. Acknowledge that you don’t have to be “special” or “worthy” or “talented” in some way in order to earn God’s approval. Affirm that even though you are fragile, God has stored a life treasure in you. He has a purpose for you and can keep you from falling apart as you use your treasure to touch and bless others.
There is a story about a young girl who takes two clay jars hanging on the ends of a pole and carries them across her shoulders to the well every day to fetch water for the family. One of those jars has a crack in it. On the journey back to the house, water drips slowly from that broken jar. The result is that the neighbors all notice and enjoy the fact that the flowers on that side of the path are always more beautiful.
Others are blessed by our commonness and our vulnerabilities. They are all part of the treasures of God within us. We should appreciate these things about each other, because through them is shown the power of God to use the ordinary to do extraordinary things.
It’s not so bad to be a “cracked pot.”
Have a blessed day,
Chaplain Mark