"Remember kids, God made you special, and He loves you very much!"

"Remember kids, God made you special, and He loves you very much!"

There are so many times in my life when I look at myself and I hate what I see. A lonely and scared boy, trying to hide his blemishes from the world. Trying to appear normal in a world where "normal" is impossible to achieve. Trying to put on a bold front for the people that he must be strong for. On the inside, I am so frightened. I feel so flawed. So many nights I spend in my bed thinking and praying. So many nights I spend wondering if I will ever be fixed. If I will ever be right.

It's nights like this when I remember a phrase that Bob the tomato from Veggie Tales told me at the end of every episode. One that, for whatever reason, still echoes around my mind this very night. He told me "Remember, God made you special, and He loves you very much". It's these words that I try and take comfort in. The fact that God made me special means that I cannot be defective. He designed me just as I am. By saying I am flawed, am I not questioning his awesome power of creation? Whatever problems that I face, I can always face them knowing that God is bigger than them. He knew that I would come upon every issue that I have and will ever encounter. He probably even designed some of the things that I have to work though for whatever reason.

The second part of that phrase hits me too. "And He loves you very much". He does love me very much. And I am able to find peace in that. Knowing that God loves me so much that He would never allow anything to ever come my way that is too big for me to handle. God knows my limits better than I do, so I can rest easy in knowing that He knows what I can stand up to. It is hard for me to say during times of struggle, but I am glad that God knows what I can stand. I can know that anything that comes my way is there for the best. To strengthen and grow me, and plant even more love for Him in my life. I pray that I am able to see that in the midst of the struggles that I am going through now, and the things that I will continue to struggle with for the rest of my days on earth. Thank you for making me special, God. And thank you for your never ending love.