In today’s world of bigger and better, the concept of less than is not the most appealing.
Especially when it applies to self-image.
For a good while in my life, I continually aspired to be more. My desires to be smarter, thinner, funnier, more articulate – or whatever other deficiency I perceived – sabotaged my confidence.
Until a God-moment occurred.
Such a gift from Him…a message that I should not feel less than, but content with. This gentle revelation prompted a powerful change in perspective – that God loves me just the way I am.
This is not to say that He does not encourage us to grow and change. But God does want us to love ourselves as He created us, imperfections and all.
Having a content with outlook frees us to be comfortable within, allowing us to receive the gifts that God has given us, and share them with others.
Recently, the notion of less than took on an even deeper meaning for me.
God has frequently been nudging me to be less conscious of myself and more aware of Him.
Sounds like a simple request, but in reality it is a daily challenge. Setting aside my momentary agendas to be fully present to a person or a situation requires a shutdown of sorts.
(Resisting the barrage of continuous distractions is a lifetime challenge, I’m convinced.)
But, when we have the joy of experiencing of deep connection to others – and ultimately to God – we begin to wonder why life can’t be more of that.
How much larger your life would be if your self could become smaller in it! ~G.K. Chesterton
Such a great concept – that depreciation of self can result in a richer, fuller life.
Let’s make the Investment that has the greatest return…
He must become greater; I must become less. ~John 3:30
I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other and that the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them. I now find that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath the other. It is not a question of growing taller, but of stooping down to get His best gifts. ~F.B. Meyers
beWARM 
Thanks Toni!
You are welcome, Sheila!
Thanks for blessing us with your words, Toni. You are gift. God is good in you.
And I have learned much, thanks to your gifts, Susan!
Touched my heart today! Thank-you, Toni
Being smaller more often, even as ones world gets bigger and bigger. You model that. Only God can work the miracle on my heart to set aside this energetic ego.
“Content with” yes! Psalm 131 right?!
Yes, definitely, Mary Jane! Thank you for the reference!
Okay, so I’m not gonna comment on every post. But this – “when we have the joy of experiencing of deep connection to others – and ultimately to God – we begin to wonder why life can’t be more of that.” – makes me think of my lunch today. Thanks for your friendship.
And thank you for yours! May all of our lives hold more moments of deep connection….
..Toni girl…just catching up here…whew…
Loving all the writings, my dear……placing them all
deep into my heart..XO!
Thank you,Frannie!
What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively useful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & help other users like its aided me. Great job.
[…] dear friend, Toni, shared an observation in her blog, beWARM, that caught my […]