broken shells.

You know what kills me? That so many girls i know, myself included, wrap their worth in their relationships....wether it a romantic relationship or a friendship. In a break up of some people close to me it broke my heart to hear that the girl thought that the boy broke up with her because she wasn't WORTH it. It had nothing to do with worth...but she thought that she wasn't worth being in a relationship and convinced herself that it was the reason he broke up with her. 

Its so hard for people to find their worth these days because we're told that its in what we own, what we look like, who we're with, what school we go to, what grades we get, etc. We're told our worth is in what WE can do and what WE can accomplish. Worth isn't what i do....it's who i am, regardless of what i do. 

My sophomore year of highschool God really used the ocean as something to change my life. I saw it as something different....and to this day its the place that i can't help but go and see God all around. Not only does the ocean and the beach and everything else just amaze me...but what stood out to me was the shells on the beach. Shells have, and always will, hold a place in my heart. 

--kinda a side note, but i love how everyone has some sort of place that just screams God. For some its a lake, others its the mountains, the sunrise, the sunset, and for others it might be something as simple as a flower garden. 

Again, my sophomore year of highschool, on the beach, the Lord really wrapped his arms around me. I'll never forget it. But, after returned from SL campi had to write out what i was thinking. So, what you're about to read are my thoughts...and i've had plans of sending some type of rendition of this to my friends along with a shell. I just want people to understand their beauty. I want ME to understand my beauty. I want people to understand that they are different and they are chipped and broken.....but thats what makes them beautiful. Anyway, just read. 

God is the ocean and we are his shells

Sweetheart,

Imagine this. 

You're standing on the beach and you can smell the ocean. You close your eyes and you can hear the waves crashing at your feet. The sunset is beaming on top of the water. Off in the distance you can hear the gigantic waves crashing. You can feel their power by their mighty roar. As you walk down the sandy shore you observe the thousands of shells the ocean has washed up from within its depths. Its impossible to try and imagine what else this deep, majestic body of water has brought life to. It is the creator, care taker, and life sustainer. Without it most existence would not be! Its depths are unthinkable! Millions and millions of its creatures depend on its very existence. Without it they would be nothing. Even with its overpowering and intimidating appearance something about it calms the soul. It relaxes and revives the life within you.

Once again you glance down the shore and you see the thousands of shells lying on the sand. The abundance is overwhelming, but its even more exciting to think how many shells are still hiding within the depths of the sea. As all the beautiful shells glimmer back at you in the sun you notice one shell in particular. As you pick up the shell you cant help up notice its rare design. But as you observe across the shore you notice every shell has unique characteristics that are unlike ANY of the others. Some may be similar but not one is the same. Every bump, crack, color….all formed as a result of its past and journey. Not one looks like any other! Not one shell has shared the same life as ANY other. Each has its own story and purpose. Some are big and others are small. The multitude of colors upon the shore magnifies the beauty of the collective whole. Each shell was specifically made to glorify Christ and show his unbelievable originality in creation. Who has the capability to create these shells so rare and extraordinary? Only our God! The shells praise his name simply by sitting on the shore and showing off their beauty. If all shells looked the same, what is there to treasure? It is their uniqueness that shows us why we praise our God! It is the ocean that has brought then to where they are and has navigated their beauty. 

**Not one is the same but all are equally important** 

In the same aspect Christ created us in such a unique manner that all we can do is observe and praise the creativity our loving God has. YOU are like NONE other. YOU are as special as each shell on the ocean shore. In addition to the shells YOU are who you are today because of the journey God has brought you through. Each crack, each bump is a result of your journey. Those bumps are also continual reminders of Gods plans and constant guidance. God created you different in every aspect in which none other can compare…