I only Need One Glove

A friend forwarded me an email newsletter containing the following story. I find it to be beautiful and full of truth. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

I Only Need One Glove

I was born missing my right forearm. So, for most of my life, I was self-conscious about my physical appearance. Since most people only see the outward aspects of a person, I assumed that I would be defined by my lack of my right hand.

When I looked in the mirror, I was always reminded: You're not all there. You're not symmetrical like everyone else. You'll never measure up.

And when I looked inside, I saw the same kind of imbalance in my inner life as well. Religion told me the high standards God had for me, and although I managed to keep the outward appearance of my life OK by attending church and doing what church folks expected of me, inwardly I knew that I never truly measured up to those standards.

I grew up thinking God measured me by my lack: my weakness and my sin. I believed I would always be defined as someone less than fully lovable.

But recently, something happened that God used to show me his true feelings for me. It happened just before a bike ride.

It was a few weeks ago. Scott, Jeff and I met at a parking lot to start our ride together, and we were getting our bikes out of our vehicles, airing up our tires, etc. I realized I had forgotten to bring my padded glove, so I asked my friends if they had any extra glove I could use.

They both said yes and began digging around in their bags. Scott handed me one... a right! Jeff handed me a... a pair!

I laughed, "Uh, Scott, I can't USE a RIGHT! Umm, Jeff, I don't NEED a PAIR, just a left!"
We had a laugh about that, and later as we talked about that humorous little situation, they both said something to me that was straight from God's heart to me. They said, "You know, Robert, when we see you, we don't even see that you're missing an arm. It never even crosses our mind that you don't have an arm. To us, you're whole and complete!"

I felt the nudge in my heart as my Father spoke to me: "Robert, when I look at you, I too look at you as whole, complete, lacking nothing. In my eyes, you are perfect! Just the way you are! I love you just the way you are! That's the way love sees you."

So I share this with you today as a message from God's heart to you, whoever you are, and whatever "missing arm" you might have in your life. When our Father looks at you, he does not even see the things you see as your disqualifications. His affection for you is so complete that it doesn't even cross his mind that you are less than his beloved child.

He longs for you and me to know that he is NOT holding our sins against us; he is NOT keeping a record of our lacks and imperfections and weaknesses; he is NOT impatient with our lack of progress or growth. He sees us according to the value he has placed upon us: we are his precious sons and daughters.

My Father sees me as whole. My two friends spoke the truth of his heart to me.

Let's live loved!
RK