More Thoughts on Self-Worth...

So I am still thinking about where my value and identity as a woman truly comes from...and learning slowly that it is ONLY from God. My identity can only be found in Him, because anything else I build my value or self-worth upon is like the man who built his house upon the sand...and the rain came tumbling down...and his house went SPLAT!

We are so caught up in titles. Maybe it is a Western mindset, I'm not sure, but all I know is that my having an MA in English may sound really snazzy, but all it basically provides is a foot in the door to a job. That's all, because quite frankly, I remember next to zero of what I actually learned during that time. Instead of the MA in English, I should have probably received an MA in B.S.! That's basically what I did!

Now, am I saying that I am not grateful to have had the opportunity to obtain this degree? Not at all! I am very grateful, yet what I am saying is that the degree itself doesn't prove a thing about me or my value as a person at all. Some may say that indicates that I was a more driven or intellectual person, yet I beg to differ. I don't think I am alone in saying that I went BACK to school to earn another degree because I didn't know what else I wanted to do with my life. So, hey, I'll just go back to school some more and stay out of the real world!

Ha! I've got to laugh. I'm sorry, but it's true. I am not against obtaining degrees, please don't misunderstand me. But a degree doesn't give you any value in and of itself. Alone and apart from God's leading in that degree, it is vanity in a high form. So, let me say again, I am not against college degrees. As a matter of fact, I am thinking of pursuing some type of degree in Christian or biblical counseling at some point, But the difference is, this time I feel truly led by the Spirit to do this. This time I will hopefully know that my value or my worth, none of the above is based upon what I DO in my life. My value is intrinsic and comes from the fact that I am created by the LORD and made in His Image. ALL human life has value, regardless of how "productive" in the world's eyes it may be.

A pre-born baby certainly seems unproductive in the world's view, and totally helpless as well. Even a nuisance to a mother who doesn't want to be bothered. Yet, this life has intrinsic value apart from "what it does." There are people all over this world who can't read, can't write, don't work, don't even speak much, yet are they less valuable than anyone else? Are they less valuable than the doctor with the lengthy credentials or the entrepeneur who spends 80 hours a week working? Are they less valuable than the pastor with a divinity degree or the salesman with thousands of high-retail clients? My answer isn't hard to figure out!

Well, just more thoughts on this subject. Feel free to comment...