Six times throughout the calendar, our minister leads us in a short-term study on some subject. Last night's was week #3 on the topic of 'Self-Esteem'.

I will give a snapshot of what we covered in the one-hour plus class.

"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are",
was our lead in quote by Marilyn Monroe. While she certainly had a troubled life, the sentence is probably true.

We have a Biblical foundation on which to build each of our individual self-esteems.

We are created in God's image - Genesis 1:27 and James 3:9.

We have a 'divine stamp of value':  'As image-bearers of God. all humans possess a fundamental dignity that is separate from their achievements, possessions, or intelligence. This means a person's worth is intrinsic---it cannot be gained, lost or given by another person'.

Nothing can separate us from God's Love:  'Death can't and life can't. The angels won't, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God's love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are---high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean---nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us." (Romans 8:38 -  39) . And John 3:16 tells us of God's sacrificial love which affirm our worth.

And if we have self-worth, we need to be reminded to share that worth with others. Everyone has His self-worth as well. We can discover that self-worth by loving them and helping them. "Your attitude must be like, My Own (Jesus talking), for I the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many." (Romans 20:28).

While we know some of these, we often need to reflect on what God thinks about us. In case, we forget!!

We need to celebrate every day:  I am loved. And so are you!! Thank You, Jesus!