During quarantine, I have been spending a lot of time with my kids. In the blink of an eye, I had to figure out how to activate the super powers of my kid’s teachers. All while working to launch a ministry, be a playmate, encourager, and single handedly taking on the role of the village that helps us have well rounded kids. 

That is a lot on its own and then there is the pandemic itself. The concern for the health of everyone I love, secret algorithms to track pallets of toilet paper at Costco, all while my kids are sad and angry about why they can’t see their friends.

This is hard, give yourself some grace. 

You don’t have to be a mom to know what that tension feels like. As people, it is easy to feel like we have to do all things and be all things to everyone.  

We feel the weight of expectations that other people place on us. Sometimes it’s expectations we put on ourselves. It can be a heavy weight to carry. If we are honest, I think most of us have felt that way.

This past week, I have been focusing on managing my own expectations so that I enjoy these moments without disappointment.

There is a tension in this.  

The reality is, there is a tension that lives between our expectations of perfection and the reality of being imperfectly perfect people.

We can look at a magazine, or a social media page and think those people’s lives are so perfect. The only perfect person who walked this earth, was Jesus himself.  

Can you imagine what it felt like to be the disciples?

They really did hang out with a perfect person. When you are hanging out with the most perfect person to EVER walk the face of the earth; can you imagine the pressure? 

Trying to measure up while trying not to disappoint the One who is perfect would make it easy to fall in the comparison trap. In fact, that it is exactly what they did. 

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Matthew: 18:1 

If we are honest, we’ve been there too.

Some of us call that comparison and some of us call that competition. I promise in some way it has touched all of our hearts and thoughts.  

Recently, I took an online class and I came out of it wrestling with the thought that I couldn’t implement what she was teaching because I wasn’t as thin, stylish, or young as she was.  

Social media fuels this tension as we compare ourselves to the highlight reels of people’s lives on Instagram and Facebook. 

Too many times we bring ourselves to situations, friendships and even Jesus, wondering if we are enough.

The disciples struggled with comparison and competition wondering which one of them lived up best to Jesus’ standard. How does Jesus respond to the disciples? 

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-4

Jesus using a child as an example says something about His nature. Kids have humility, are not concerned about social status and believe they are awesome.

When my son was little he would sing his ABC’s at the top of his lungs and dance wildly, even if I had my camera out. He was not embarrassed; he didn’t wonder if he danced as well as his sister. However, he knew that he was loved and valued.

When did we lose that? 

We go from look at me! Silly and fun to don’t look at me, I may not measure up. Those same ABC’s that we love to recite as kids spell powerful words that we begin to use against ourselves as adults.

Sometimes, we feel as if no one sees our value. Yet the real tragedy is when we don’t see the value in ourselves. 

God Sees You! 

When you look in the mirror what do you see? You are amazing, no matter what your past looks like. It doesn’t matter if you yelled at your kids this morning, or lost your job last week. Jesus gave His life for you because you have amazing value to the God of the universe. 

Let’s Reclaim how we see ourselves.

What would be different in your life if you align what you believe about yourself with what Jesus says about you? It’s as simple as going back to your ABC’s.  This is who you are and this is what Jesus sings over you… Watch Video Here! 

In the comments below, share which of these truths from this post or the video above stood out to you. We would love to pray that specific truth over you this week!

More Articles From Reclaimed Story Are Available Here