February 1, 2019 -- Despised, Yet Loved

Hope needed to write a blog post for her English class in response to a worldview or issue presented in a movie.  We thought it might be fun for her to actually share her blog post with you, on her blog!   I would so love for her to take over the blog some day, so this is great practice for her toward that end, and we hope you enjoy a little peek into the heart of our sweet girlie!

Despised, Yet Loved

by Hope Peacock

It's been a little over a year since the movie, "The Greatest Showman" came to theatres.  I loved the music and had almost every song memorized, word for word, within a few weeks.  My mom, sister, and I even watched it a second time in the theatre, which we never do . . . it was that good!  So, why was I so drawn to this movie?  Was it the popular actors or the fantastic acting?  Was it the fabulous singing voices or the captivating foot-stomping music?  Or was it the stirring message behind the heart-warming story that made "The Greatest Showman" the greatest show?

The answer to all three questions is an exuberant, "YES!"  

However, when I weighed what was most meaningful to me, what struck me and stuck with me, it was its message about love and connection . . . you may be despised by the world because you are different, but you are loved!  Isn't that what we all want more than anything, to be loved and valued? 

The world says to pursue all kinds of ways to feel loved and valued by others . . . money, happiness, power, beauty, multiple lovers, popularity, fame, self-pursuit, whatever would make you feel good about yourself . . . anything goes!  I don't see a lot of happy people around me, rather people caught in a endless rat race of self-love and loneliness.

The Bible says that we are loved and valued by the Creator and Giver of life, not because we look a certain way, act a certain way, possess a certain quality, or even because we do great things, simply because God created us in His image and He loves and values us as unique and special to Him.

Psalm 139:13-14 "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mothers womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

We're so loved by God, that He sent His son, Jesus . . . 

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

The movie's message that you can be loved and valued for your differences feels so good, but it is only about a connection with people.  Human love is imperfect and does not completely satisfy, as circumstances and relationships in our lives often remind us.  So much more fulfilling and necessary is the fact that you can be loved and valued by Jesus; He is the only key out of the rat race!  

I am disabled in so many ways!  My hands don't work, my legs don't work, and my eyes don't work.  I can't feed myself or dress myself.  It's hard for me to think of words without help.  I depend on people to help me to get through life on a day to day basis.  I use a wheelchair and I look different, a different that no one else would look at and say, "That girl has a great life!  I wish I could be like her!"  I can't say I blame them for not wanting to be like me; my life is hard, but I can say that I still have a reason for living that gives me joy, purpose, and hope!  My body fails me, but something that never fails me, is Jesus' love for me.  I know my need for a Saviour; I've repented of my sins and put my trust in Jesus alone.  Now, I know Jesus and a love that is unconditional and without end.  I am loved and valued simply because He loved me first!

God has placed a lot of people in my life, both near and far, that love me and pray for me, and I am so blessed and thankful for them!  They know how different I am, and yet, they love and value me enough to still read this blog seven years after my brain injury!  All I can say is, "Wow!  And thank you!"  However much these people love me, it will never surpass the love that Jesus has shown me.

So, if you're looking for love and connection, if you feel different, alone, and despised by the world around you, I hope you know the greatest news ever . . . that no matter what,

You are

 loved by Jesus!