Who "Matters"?

If you're taking your cues from the news media these days and you happen to live in America, you might start to think you don't “matter” any more..... unless your skin is a certain color or you have an “essential” job. I happen to fit into neither of those two categories.
But I know that I matter. And I know you do too. No matter if your skin is black or white or any shade in between, I know that you matter. And whether you're a doctor or a cashier, or a farmer or a teacher, or a police officer, or a stay at home mom like me..... you matter too. How do I know? I know that I matter and that you matter because we are both made in the image of God. Whether you love Jesus with all your heart, or you want nothing to do with God, or you're feeling confused about it all..... you're still made in God's image. And that gives you infinite worth and value.

The color of our skin is not what makes us matter. The amount of money we make is not what gives us our value. The job we do is not what causes us to be an essential person. We are all on equal footing here. We are all made in God's image, and we all desperately need His mercy and grace. We all need the forgiveness that only comes through the blood of Christ. Not a one of us is better, or more essential or more valuable or more worthy than anyone else. None of us matters more.

Is there prejudice and racism? Sadly, yes. Is there injustice and unfair treatment? Painfully so. But you and I are responsible before God for the choices that WE make. We have the choice to bring healing or to cause hurt. I happen to have an ancestor from quite a ways back that I've been told was a very unkind person. I have no idea what this person did to earn this reputation. And (thanks be to God!) I am not responsible for the hurt that this person must have caused to those around them. I am responsible for me. Not for my mother or father, or great, great, great grandmother, or anyone else. And you are responsible for the choices you make. And we are individuals. Members of certain races, and groups, yes, but individuals. One bad teacher does not make all teachers bad. One bad white woman does not make all white women bad. This goes for all categories.... One bad __________ does not make all ______________ bad.

Some of us who have been silent during all that's going on have been told that “silence is violence”. I beg to differ. Silence on social media is only one type of silence. Perhaps some of us don't really feel like we know what to say about what's happening. Perhaps we don't want to share our perspectives for the whole world to see. Maybe we don't want to say something just for the sake of “saying something”. Or maybe.... maybe we've not been silent at all. Perhaps we've been crying out to God for answers to the problems that plague our country. Maybe what is often perceived as silence is actually a heartfelt cry to God on behalf of those who are hurting. God hears. He knows all. And He is perfecty in control.