Sarah Young writes: “One thing that traps you in self-absorption is being overly concerned about how you look—in the mirror or in the eyes of others.” (Jesus Always: Embracing Joy in His Presence) 

I love learning from other people. Watching how a person interacts with others often instructs me on how I can interact more wisely and lovingly myself. Seeing how another honors her husband, parents her children, organizes her schedule, or prioritizes her relationship with God gives me examples of how to live my life more fully. I learn from others’ lives and words, their teaching and instruction. I am meant to. But I am not meant to move from learning from them to belittling my need to learn. Another person’s greatness does not mean I cannot excel as well. There is room in the kingdom of God for everyone’s gifts to flourish. Rather than looking at other people’s lives to validate my own, I’m supposed to be looking at the love and delight in Jesus’ eyes. God values each and every one of our lives. We are unique and different from one another, and we are meant to be. If we don’t live and love and offer in ways we are gifted to do, even if we’re still growing, then the world will be missing what is ours alone to offer.

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