A Night to Remember

It made me forget that...

I had never been to a high school dance.
I can count the number of slow dances danced on one hand.
And that I would never be able to count the number of legitimate dates I've been on
Because I have yet to go on one.

I believe that humans long to feel special.

When I heard that one of the biggest churches in Rockford was putting on a free prom (meaning dinner, dresses, make up/accessories, and limo ride of no charge) for those with special needs, I realized that this idea was a brilliant idea. In my foundations of exceptionality class, we discussed how those with special needs are considered to be the least of these in our culture. To me, this is truly applying our call to love the least of these.

My students that day had shown me the poster of it with their eyes gleaming as they discussed this very important day that was about to come up. The girls would always share with excitement that it made them feel loved, beautiful, and special.

Loved.
Beautiful.
Special.

I've always sought to find these things in human relationships. I finally decided to stop searching this month mostly because I realized that I had been searching everywhere but where I needed to find these three things.

Enough. I would always sing choruses of God being enough for me in church while in the back of my mind thinking of the things that would make my life seem 'more.' As humans, we are prone to wanting more. We pursue things that we think will fulfill our lives and desires. Even our desires to feel loved. To be seen as beautiful. To know that someone believes that we are special.

We search so much that we forget to recognize His voice. His voice that calls His children to an intimate relationship. Our Creator that tells us these very things that we have been longing to hear. If we would only come to Him, we would realize that there is true contentment and peace in this ultimate love story.

This love story of the cross and His grace. Of His relentless pursuit of us despite the many times that we have fallen. A friend once told me that we were chosen, not needed by God...and to always remember that truth.

And in the same way, I should always remember that I, as a child of God, was chosen.

And this
Makes me feel special.