ROMANS 3:23
Every year my church has a beautiful Christmas Eve service. There are decorations everywhere, and we sing carols, have special music, and hear about the birth of Jesus. I remember my sophomore year I was thrilled because my brother and my sister’s families were there. I knew that we were going to have a great Christmas. We hadn’t all been together for a long time. As the service was wrapping up, my pastor’s five children, who were all home from various places in the U.S., went up and did special music, singing and playing different instruments. The song was very impressive; they all had a lot of talent. I listened intently and became very jealous. Questions were bouncing around in my mind: “Why wasn’t I … why wasn’t my family perfect like that?” I enjoyed my family, but after about a day of all of us being together, we would start to fight and I was ready for them to leave. I struggled with wanting so much to be perfect but never being able to. This summer a friend helped me see past not being perfect. She was someone I deeply respected and she told me what she had been struggling with in her faith that summer. She reminded me that we all struggle with things, and that is not always a bad thing. Christ teaches us through our weaknesses, and besides that, if we didn’t struggle, we wouldn’t need Him. I am learning, and am thankful, that God loves and uses imperfect people.
Lisa A. Osier, 18, Nebraska Christian High School, Kenesaw, NE
Thank goodness You use imperfect people, Lord.
I’m so glad that my flaws don’t stop You for
using me for Your glory.