By Sandra Woods
For me maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was an only child. Speaking with another “only”, I once remarked that I often arrived late and left early because I didn’t think my presence was actually wanted, so I limited the time others had to be around me and feel uncomfortable. My friend said that she would arrive early so that she wouldn’t be left behind! Neither of us believed people really wanted us around. Such self images affected so much of our lives. Speaking for myself, I can identify times when I allowed myself to be taken advantage of...physically, emotionally and financially, all to “keep a relationship”. Of course these people had never really cared much about me. I became chameleon-like. I adapted to circumstances to fit in. Never setting boundaries or standards for myself or those whose worlds I was allowed into. Notice I did not say that they were in my world, I had no world of my own. No safe haven. No idyllic sanctuary to guard and protect. This lack of self awareness and value colored so much of my life that I didn’t know that there was another way to be! I did not know my value and worth. I didn’t know I was a pearl! Until I found Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior, MY Redeemer! Now I am aware that not every Child of God comes to this realization immediately and some never really do. But there is a great paradigm shift when you know that you know! That’s what I saw when I participated in the Heart Helpers Mentor Training with Dinah Monahan at Robin’s Nest. The eleven of us virtual strangers arrived on a Wednesday in August and by the time we were saying our good-byes on Sunday morning everyone’s countenance had changed! Robin’s Nest is not just a place for healing. It’s a place for spiritual surgery! When you finish with your lessons on Breaking the Shackles of Shame, which is the root of so many of our “less than” conditions, you will never be the same! Not only do you feel the love of your sisters-in-Christ, but you truly can feel the love of Abba, our Father in Heaven. For many women it makes the difference from being a victim to a victor! Yes, our pasts affect us, but God is more powerful than any enemy that has come against us...even it began generations before we were born! Ty Bennett of Relevant Leadership, speaker, author, and entrepreneur leader shares this story in his 6/26/2020 blog: A father said to his daughter “You graduated with honors, here is a car I acquired many years ago. It is several years old. But before I give it to you, take it to the used car lot downtown and tell them I want to sell it and see how much they offer you. The daughter went to the used car lot, returned to her father and said, “They offered me $1,000 because it looks very worn out.” The father said, “Take it to the pawn shop.” The daughter went to the pawn shop, returned to her father and said, “The pawn shop offered $100 because it was a very old car.” The father asked his daughter to go to a car club and show them the car. The daughter took the car to the club, returned and told her father, “Some people in the club offered $100,000 for it since it’s a Nissan Skyline R34, an iconic car and sought out by many.” The father said to his daughter, “The right place values you the right way.” If you are not valued, do not be angry, it means you are in the wrong place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you. Never stay in a place where no one sees your value. At Robin’s Nest they know your value. Their goal is for you to know it too! Go where you are valued my sister-friends. To God, our Father, you are priceless. You and I were worth God sending His Son Jesus to die for us, so we could be with Him, forever. For God we are Pearls of Great Price!
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