Walks are our sanity break right now. As we were heading out today, my son said excitedly, Do you think we’ll see Waste Pro cans?! “Well, it’s not trash collection day, so I’m not sure.”, I told him. “Why?”, I asked.
“I just like them.”, he stated. “The colors are beautiful!”
“The trash cans?”, I asked inquisitively. “Yes!!, He said with all his eight-year-old excitement. “One kid at school said trash cans were yucky but I said no they’re not. I like them!”
“Well then, I hope we see some trash cans, Buddy!”, I said as we headed out.
Along our walk, sure enough, he noticed every single trash can and delighted in the green and blue bins and lids. “I like that the blue cans have green lids and the green cans have blue lids. It looks nice that way!”, he said as if we were looking out over an ocean of blue and green hues.
I wasn’t sure at that point if there was something seriously wrong with my kid or if he has a serious gift to see the world through different eyes. I chose to abandon all previous constructs of my personal opinion on trash cans and embrace this new viewpoint. As we continued our walk, we found big trash cans, small trash cans, medium trash cans, old ones and new ones. Some were for recycling and some for waste.
And my kid saw each one beautiful, unique and purposefully designed.
Friends, that’s how your Creator sees you. Beautiful, unique and purposefully designed. No matter the garbage this world has thrown at you. No matter how little you’ve thought of yourself or how others have treated you. If this world has discarded, discounted, used and abused you, seen you as unworthy, unlovely, unaccepted or rejected you; Know there is One who sees your full potential.
There is One who sees beauty where others see decay. There is One who sees purpose where others see uselessness. There is one who sees extraordinary where others see ordinary.
You may feel like nothing more than trash in this world but sweet friend, let me assure you, God sees treasure!
The next time you’re out for a walk, look for the trash cans. Seek beauty in the rarest of places and remember you are more. You are seen. You are loved. You are beautiful. You are treasured.