SEVEN THINGS I LOVE

Random thoughts, By Jeff Knight

3. I love who I am. Here's the deal. I haven't always been able to say that. It's very sobering to say such a phrase, but I've discovered that I cannot love people like I'm called to unless I love the man in the mirror.

I grew up with a huge complex. It wasn't diagnosed, I wasn't medicated for it, but that doesn't mean it was not there. It plagued me when I was little, as I grew, and didn't disappear just because I got a college education. In fact, it became so bad I realized I couldn't overcome it by myself. I knew I needed help.

So I sought out a Christian Life Coach and I processed my worth, my love for myself, what motivated me, how I do life, how I process and I put the ball in the hoop. I discovered that my need to be accepted by people was sabotaging my ability to love myself. I started to work on my rejection the moment I was empowered by my coach to do so.

What did I find? I found out that most people are not rejecting me, they are simply navigating their way through life, but more importantly, I found that I no longer needed others to validate me. I discovered Christ in a new way. I learned that I was not defined by the success of my career, instead, by Jesus and my faith, hope and love in him. Sorry, manly man I had to break it down and get over the jock talk, the itchy shorts grabbin' while pretending nothing gets me spun up facade I was living and understand my value was not in what I do, but in who I am. AND I am a bonafide Christ follower. I lost my life in him, and now I'm really living! I love who I am because daily I become more like who I love!

4. I love who I plan on becoming.
Don't get me wrong, I am far from complete. I still get spun out at times, though a lot less. I get angry, but for the right reasons. I think about sex, as often as possible with my wife! Really, I am an adrenaline junky, with no cure. I admit it. But, in my opinion, it's better than thinking I got the world by the horns when in fact it's the curly end of the pig. I used to serve my stuff, my goals, my future, but Christ changed all that and I'm more excited about the future than I can express.

I love it that my passions now rest in becoming who Christ wants me to be. Yes sir, I've lost some important people in my life. I've endured some pretty harsh critiques at times, but I love what Jesus is making me into. I love it that His plan is so vast that I already know I can't afford it in the natural, I'm not mature enough in my mind, don't know enough with my knowledge and am not strong enough to do it alone. I really love who He is making me to be!

Think about this. When did we get so dead set on achieving things on our own? Nobody in this life achieves anything of significance alone. An athlete has great coaches, an actor has great directors and a political leader has the shoulders of greats who've gone before them, and even Jesus had the help of twelve. Why then do we think our vision for life only includes us? Seriously, I love it that who God is making me into involves scores of other people. Where are we headed together? You will love it too.