You Have a Place

I've never quite felt rooted in my life. I've always been an odd man out, the person who was different than the rest, the girl who no one really understood.

Whether it be too silly for the religious, too religious for the secular, too messy for the clean, too straight edge for the mess. 

I've never quite felt rooted in relationships or in the world. I've never quite fit the mold. I've almost felt like I've been misplaced in my own life.

I had never felt rooted until I met Jesus on a sunny day in Indiana. For the first time in my life, I felt the extremely loving arms of Jesus. I realized I was loved.

I remember the moment like it was yesterday -- a memory burned into my heart that will never leave me. I was there, a young teenager lost and confused and unknowing of my place.

And He showed me my place. I realized that in all of the moments I had felt isolated, all of the moments I had felt alone or lost or far away, He was right there with me, extending a hand, waiting for me to see His great mercy.

He showed me a seat at the table. He showed me where to be rooted. He showed me where my place is. It is next to Him, at the banquet of life. It is riding along with Him on the adventure He gives me.

He showed me a seat at the table. And it is right next to you. Your seat is at the table as well. You are accepted in the loving relationship of our merciful Father just as I am, every single day.

We have a place. 

To all those who feel too lost,
to all those who feel misunderstood,
to all those who are the odd (wo)man out,
He has a seat for us, right next to Himself, right next to each other.

You and I have a seat at the table. So let's take it. Let's be rooted in our identity as daughters of the King and as friends of Jesus.

Let's take our seats next to each other and next to our God. 

And let's bask in the mercy of our Lord.