the beauty of belonging

“Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me” Acts 27: 23

Belong:

to be rightly placed

to be a member or part

to be the rightful possession of

to be under someone’s care and control, held by

be included, have a place

to fit in, be suited to, have a rightful place, have a home

My Abba,

As I look back at my life, I see how I have craved a sense of belonging. I wanted to feel “rightly placed, to be included, to have a home.”

When I think of the word “belong,” the first memories that rush to mind feature me trying to walk the blistering gauntlet each morning in foyer of my middle school while clinging to my last fraying thread of composure. My gut still feels a bit queasy when I let these scenes flood back.

My insecurity surged each day the rough gaggle of tween boys used my painfully skinny body as fodder for their jokes. (I guess being twig thin was not yet popular at my school.)

I was on the outside of the belonging bubble looking in. I desperately wanted to pierce that forbidding film and enter a world where I was accepted.

Unfortunately, I resorted to some misguided strategies in my quest to gain access. Now I know what my 12-year-old self did not. What I truly wanted was to be an integral part of something powerful and significant. (Hindsight is the only sight that seems crystal clear at my age.)

As a child, I didn’t grasp the truth that my feeble attempts made me malleable to the whims of others. I amplified their juvenile opinions in my heart and mind as my need to belong swelled.

Today, when I look around, though, I see I am not alone in this. Many people seem to be struggling to find a sense of belonging. We join associations, clubs, churches, even terrorist groups and violent gangs, in order to belong to something. We are grasping for connection - the sense that we are suited to something, have a rightful place or a home somewhere.

I love the phrase, “the God to whom I belong.” I want to explore more about what it means to belong to you.

I love you,

Mollie

My child,

I created you with an innate desire to belong in your rightful place. That place is in relationship with me, as a member of my family.

That is at the root of your need to belong. I created you to long for your home with me. When you came into a relationship with me, you sat down at my table in the place I designed and set for you alone.

At times, you forget how secure and at home you are with me. You are tempted to fill your need to belong in other ways. I am the only one who can show you the joy of your life, together with me, as my child.

You can’t lose your place at my table. You can't be taken off the guest list because you don’t mind your manners or show up on time for dinner.  But you miss out when you wander off. I created you to live together with your forever family and me, under my care and blessing.

You have a unique place in our kingdom family that only you can fill. We can live life without you, but we don’t want to. I want you to enjoy this extravagant feast with us.

Remember, you belong to me. I created you and cherish you. And that is the ultimate beauty of belonging.

I love you,

Abba

 photo: willyambradberry

NIV