Inclusion.
There's a reason why it's a universal need for all humans in some capacity. Because excluded hurts no matter how you dice it and no matter how it is dished out.
Not being included hurts.
Being left out wounds.
Not being invited to the party sucks.
Period.
What's worse than being excluded is being excluded because you're unliked, unwelcome, or deemed unworthy.
Being unliked is the worst.
But is it?
Does being unliked have anything at all to do with you, or does it say more about the people who don't like you enough to deem you worthy of being included?
See, I'm learning it has more to do with them than it does with you or me.
Because no matter what we do, there will always be people who don't want to include us, don't like us, and who don't recognize or acknowledge that we have worth. Believe me, I know how easy it is to feel like because of these people, we are somehow unlovable, worthless, and just wrong somehow.
It's. Not. True.
Whether or not I am included, liked, accepted, welcomed, or invited doesn't determine my worth or my ability to be loved. Or at least, it doesn't have to. If I choose to not let it define my worth, it has no power over me, and doesn't have to keep me awake at night wondering what is wrong with me and why everyone can't just love and accept me.
The truest truth is that God thinks I am lovable, so much so He sent His son to die for me even with my flaws and my wrongness. Jesus thinks every single one of us is worth dying for. And no one is excluded from that. Everyone is welcome to that party.
So I guess with that perspective, yeah being excluded still hurts, but I'm so thankful for the grace that reminds me that Jesus too was hated, but that didn't stop him from living his purpose.
So whether or not I'm included, welcome, liked, and accepted, I'm going to keep my eyes focused on who God has made me to be despite the hurts, because I'm loved by the Creator of the world, and the most loving husband, the best dad, mom brothers, cousins, aunts, grandparents, friends, and preschoolers. And their unconditional love, acceptance, inclusion, and openness is more than enough for me.
I am accepted. I am secure. I am significant in the eyes of a mighty Father. And no missed invitation, no unwelcomeness, no matter how much I am excluded and disliked, nothing will ever take that away from me.
