Daughter. Roughly half of the population is one and it is probably a pretty safe bet to assume that the entire population knows one. This word can be weighty. I would imagine as you are reading this post, that word - daughter - evokes some kind of feeling for you. Perhaps you look back on you childhood and think about how cherished your parents made you feel. You were safe, protected, and within the fold of security. “Daughter” is a word that allows you to recall fondly one of the first labels you were given.
Some of you read that word and that sneaky dark fog begins to roll into your mind, clouding your awareness of the present. Feelings of inadequacy or neglect are linked to that word. Perhaps you have a churning feeling in your stomach just thinking about that label from which you have tried to run, and instead are clinging to a new label with the hopes of erasing the past.
And then there are many of you who are somewhere in the middle. 'Daughter' allows you to reflect on memories you love and memories you wish you could forget. Or perhaps you have a daughter of your own and you are thinking about your relationship with her and hoping you are instilling value and worth in her.
Of course, I have my own feelings and memories when I conjure up this word, but this morning, the meaning of ‘daughter’ had a new feeling as an imagery came over me. I saw myself walking through the home of my Heavenly Father’s house. I was wearing a flowy, long, flowered dress that gently blew as I glided across the hall. I was walking in a way that showed a gentle confidence. I had my head lifted up as I walked with great security of my place. I knew that though I was not in charge, I still had some authority because I was the daughter of The King. I knew I was loved, safe and cared for. My face looked relaxed and content. As I walked with assurance, I saw my Father leaning against the door frame, with his arms crossed and a smile on His face. He looked at me with pride, pleased I knew my place. This vision gave me such an amazing feeling that I have been replaying it over and over in my mind all day.
This vision is so sweet because it is a complete juxtaposition of how most of us view ourselves, including myself. Here’s the deal: we live in a broken world. The world we know takes beautiful things and twists them into something ugly. Satan loves to take a sacred title, like Daughter, and make us think that those who hold it are less than. Though his tricks are not new or cleaver, we can see this in today’s culture more than ever. We see it in the women who are viewed as playthings to simply violate and throw away. We see it in the workplace where women are not valued for their gifts and talents that they bring to their profession be it monetarily or positionally. We see in the women who are told that they are expendable, unreliable or untrustworthy. And unfortunately, dear friends, we see it in relationships with other women when we try to step on each other to get ahead or speak unkind words about another to make us feel better about ourselves. However, just because we live in this world, it does not make us of this world nor does it justify this behavior.
It is not okay to make anyone feel small. And here is why; we are all fellow image-bearers. Whether or not you choose to acknowledge that Jesus loves you and died on the cross for you- you are deeply loved by Him. Whether or not you believe in the God who created the universe - you were made by Him. And whether or not you choose to love others like He loves people - you will have to take responsibility for your actions in this life or the next. So where do we start? The first step is recognize that we are saved by grace. The next step is to extend that grace to others. Though these steps seem simple on paper, the execution can only be done when we ask the Lord to help us and show us what to do. Only through his transforming power can learn to love ourselves and others like He does.
If only I could record that sweet vision I had today and send you all the video! Because you are not small. You are loved. You are cherished. You are planned. You are important. You have authority. You are a daughter of the one true King who died the worst possible death and your face flashed through His mind as He hung there on the cross - and do you know what He was thinking? SHE IS WORTH THIS. You matter. Even if you were the only one on the planet, Jesus would still come to save you. That is how big he loves you. The vision I saw today is not at all unique to me. This is how God wants us all to view ourselves. He views you walking the halls of His home with confidence and grace too!
On Sunday, we sang Blessed Assurance at church. How appropriate for us to remember because this is very easy to forget and Satan certainly doesn't want us to claim this truth. This is my story. I am a daughter, the safe, loved and treasured daughter of The King. And so are you.