My daughters and I were lazily walking through the mall the other day, and we passed by a clothing store advertising their fall line of sweaters, jackets, and all things pants. On the display window of said store, in bold but discreet lettering, was listed different styles you could find inside. At the end of this list, a phrase caught my eye: It’s all about you.
I stopped dead in my tracks.
That small, insignificant, 4-word phrase in gray lettering on the window of this random clothing store, in this random mall got my blood boiling. News flash: the clothing stores are lying to you. It’s actually NOT all about you. Life does not revolve around your happiness, your comfort, your decisions, or your convenience. The world doesn’t stop every time you get a hang-nail, and you can’t decide you’re not going to be responsible today because your hair won’t cooperate. On the contrary, life goes on even when you don’t. If you’re too good to take that job serving food, there’s always some one else more humble willing to step in behind you.
For most of us in life, our jobs do not depend on us, we depend on them. We have jobs to pay bills, and that’s about it. Most of us know, getting up in the morning, that we are not going to change the world. We are as replaceable as a flat tire.
And marriage is not about you either. Marriage is about your spouse. Marriage is a daily sacrifice from both parties; sometimes equally, sometimes unequally. But it is not about you.
When you have kids, life is not about you. You will fight for your kids every day. Your job as a parent is to daily sacrifice for your kids. And it will be unequal for most of their lives. Especially if you teach them “it’s all about you.”
You are not special in a world of high-expectations and easy-failures. You are a series of numbers with a dollar sign in the front. Your worth is determined by how big your house is, how well your kids do in school, or whether your hair was brushed before walking to the bus stop. The world wants you to know you are only as good as your waistline is thin or your lawn is mowed. Your life only has meaning because of how they can use you.
Let me tell you, these things do not determine your worth. The clothing store doesn’t care if you spend money at their store, because there will always be someone else to buy what you didn’t. Don’t let them fool you.
However, I know the One who gives meaning to life. His name is Jesus.
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles…remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated …strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. -Ephesians 2:11-14
Life is not about you, it’s about the One who died for you. Your life means something because Jesus chose to save you. Your worth is found in the sacrifice of Christ, and in no other way. Not in cars, sex, drugs, or clothing. You are special because He gave his life for you! That’s where your worth is found.
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” –1 John 3:16
Beautifully written. God has Blessed you with insight that only comes from studying and following His word.
You’re right however we live in a world where it’s a me generation. That homeless man starving, we just step over him cause as long as it’s not me it’s not my problem. Sadly that’s the life today. Unless we are shown how to put others ahead of ourselves it will always be this way. God is the one who can show us this. We need to face reality it can happen to us. This me generation thinks it can’t happen to them cause they’re invisible but it can, they can be homeless one day, they can lose a limb and become handicapped let’s be thankful for what we have and pray for those and even think about the ones who lost something it’s not all about you. Thank you for writing this.