Dads and Labels

– July 20, 2017 – 

Dads have labels for us, don’t they? For me, my dad calls me his favorite son. When he started calling me that as an adult, it was pointed out that I was his only son, for that matter, I was an only child. He reaffirmed then, it was appropriate for me to be his favorite. Growing up, all  I ever wanted to be was like him, a hard working mechanic and car dealer. What I didn’t realize, was that my heavenly Father has given me gifts to be more than just a mechanic and a car dealer. I have moved from my hometown so that I could become more of what He wants me to be. But my mind still tells me, and my mouth still says to anyone who asks, I am a mechanic.

Labels rule the six inch world between our ears. My dad told me a few times to go out and do something different, but I wouldn’t listen. Now that I’ve taken action to become something different, I still hear the same old label. Why is that?

Wouldn’t I, or wouldn’t we be better to strive to see ourselves as God has made us and sees us? Wouldn’t that be a better label to plaster all over the walls of our thoughts? I think so. Comfort is not comfortable, if it’s not God’s will. King Solomon stated,”For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life?” (Ecclesiastes 6:12) Comfort is from the devil, and we should not like it.

We would be better to think more positively of ourselves? After all, when Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he was also writing to us when he said, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Be kind to one another (and yourselves), tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you (us).”(Ephesians 5:29,32) Blessings to you today.

(Photos of Our Daily Bread daily devotionals)