Do you realize how wonderful you are?

No one may have told you recently, but you are one of the most incredible, brilliant, extraordinary, stunning, and impressive creations on earth. As God’s image, you are very very special!

There may be days when you don’t feel so exceptional. If you’re unemployed, struggling with a health issue, feeling alone, lost or hopeless, what makes you special may feel as distant as the planet Mars. But you mustn’t let any temporal condition or circumstance get you down or cause you to forget what makes you the wonderful individual reflection of God that you are.

Months ago, I was getting to know a woman who was wheelchair bound. She was a resident in an assisted living facility. She relied almost totally on nurses and aides to meet her physical needs.

From the outward view, she might have seemed justified to feel sorry for herself, down about her prospects for happiness, and outright depressed about life. But she was not. Far from it!

This woman gushed over with joy and enthusiasm for life. She found it much easier to smile and laugh than sit silent and keep to her self.

She poured out stories about how she helped other residents in the facility find their joy again. She noted that others were often not so positive about life, frequently looking dumpy and depressed. She shared how she saw those people as needing her love, and she would give it to them, brightening up their day and helping them find cheer again.

She was not lost in self-pity and woe-me thinking. She was a light to others. She had something special to offer—her love, her care, her joy—and she freely shared it. She did not let material adversity dampen the spiritual good she had to contribute. Her commitment to living true to her upbeat spiritual individuality was an inspiration to behold. It’s what made her special.

We all have something special to offer. Like this woman, when we focus on living true to our spiritual individuality, despite material trials we face at the moment, the good we do and stay engaged with makes it easier to get through the challenge. We not only continue to bless others, we find blessing ourselves in the increased mental and moral freedom we feel from expressing undeterred love.

You are very special. Why? It’s because God made you special.

God is unique, and as God’s reflection, you have a unique contribution to make to the universal scheme of things. It’s not a material accomplishment such as what job you hold, how much money you make, or what others think of you that matters in the long run. It’s the spiritual qualities you live, the goodness you reflect, the love you share, the joy you spread and the people you heal that makes the biggest difference.

Don’t let any self-concern, fear, lapse in gratitude or indifference from others stop you from living true to your special individuality as a child of God.

You have something very positive, uplifting and spiritual to do today that brings your divine individuality out for the benefit of you and those around you.

Let your love shine, and enjoy the good company of uplifting thoughts it brings with it.

You are very special. God made you that way. You have something especially significant to contribute today that makes the world a better place. And no one else can do it except for you.

And if no one else has recently reminded you of how special you are, I just did!

Hugs…