This world is full of divisiveness, pettiness, gossip and greed. It is full of those who step on others to get ahead or who hold back others so they may delight in another's suffering. This world is full of those who are self righteous and cruel, who hand out judgement and anger like candy freely given away on Halloween. There are voices clamoring that you will never be good enough, strong enough or smart enough...so be happy in pity or mediocrity.

You can listen to those voices, or you can listen to God. God who says you are worth dying for to redeem. You are precious. You are so beloved of Him that He engraved your name into His palms (Isaiah 49:16) and He holds you up with His right hand (Isaiah 41:10.) You are a prodigal child, but God is the Father waiting for you to come to Him. He has the party planned and the robe of belonging waiting to throw over your shoulder. He has the ring of inheritance ready to slip on your finger. You are cherished and wanted for eternity.

Listen to the message of love God has for you, choose to belong through Christ's redemptive blood. Your inheritance is bought and waiting, you need only choose to believe and answer God's call to you.

And then, become a light in this swirling darkness of our society. Be a voice that gives cheer to the sorrowful, love to the lonely, friendship to the outcasts and comfort to the elderly. Help bring people together when this world wants them to be further apart. Help to heal wounded hearts, be a balm to a weary soul. You are a light unto the world (Matthew 5:14) if only you choose to be.

You can choose to further the discord, or help to heal it. What will you choose?

Be Blessed friends, and be a Blessing to someone else.

-Beth Haynes Butler