When you realize you matter

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”  Luke 12:7 NIV

     My wife and I celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary recently.  It is amazing how fast 34 years can pass.  More than half of my life has been since that day in St. Peter, Kansas.  That statement alone does not seem possible, but it is true.

     For some reason a memory popped up in my actual mind today, not Facebook.  Early in our relationship we were at her sister’s house for some type of family gathering.  I was new to the scene and trying to make a good first impression and all that.  Mary and one of her sisters were sitting on a couch when a wrestling match of sorts broke out.  They were just messing around but Karla got the best of her.  Mary ended up face down on the couch with her sister sitting on her back.

     I saw Mary’s face and knew something was wrong.  She basically had a cramp or spasm of some type in her neck, and it was clearly painful.  I was on the way to the couch by the time she yelled my name and the pain passed as soon as the wrestling stalemate ended.  But I remember thinking at the time she did not call out to her sister or any member of her family.  She called out to me. 

     Thinking back, it is one of the earliest times when I realized that I really mattered to her and how much she mattered to me.  That sounds simple but it is a big deal to realize how important you are to someone who means so much to you.  Also, I was going to get to tackle her sister - which may or may not have been fun.  I say I would do anything for her…. 

     We are 34 years older.  We have a lot more reasons for pain than we used to.  Now, if I get up off the couch wrong it can hurt.  What I love is how much more I value her as a human being, just because she is alive.  I think I would do anything for her.  But our toughest test has not been just making it through time.  We have had some tragedy as well as time.  I realized today that almost half of our marriage has been since Jordyn died.  That is crazy. 

     I was driving home from work tonight thinking that when I was young and growing up in the church, I believed that Jesus died for my sins.  I believed it then and believe it even more now.  I used to think about His crucifixion as something He did for everyone, corporately, and He did.  But as I have grown older, I realize that He did this for me, specifically.  His word says I matter so much that He would do anything to show me that He loves me, and then He did.    

Do you realize that Jesus Christ died for you?

Did you believe that He is alive for you?

Challenge:  He is, in fact, calling out to you.  His life, His death and His life again.  You matter to Him.    

Rick Claiborn