Pick Me!

     It's strawberry season in Central Florida and we went on Sunday after church. My husband has Prison Ministry once a month, and he's typically gone the entire day. Sunday was his day, so I figured it would be the perfect time to spend some extra time with the kids and help pass the time. The bonus was all those strawberries!
     We stopped for some lunch after church then headed to the strawberry farm which is about 30 minutes from our home. We had never been before so I was a little anxious about how it would all work, where to park, etc. To my surprise, it was much more laid back than I thought it would be, and there was a heck of a lot of strawberries. 
     Upon arriving they sent us to the "backfield" which I felt good about because I was worried things would be picked over, but it wasn't at all. We took buckets and filled them quickly. In only one hour we had filled our buckets with 44 quarts of strawberries. That's 11 gallons if you're counting! I really can't believe we picked so many strawberries in one hour! 
     The Farm operates on the honor system, which I thought was amazing. You simply drive around when you're done and stop at the little camper to pay the man by telling him how many quarts you picked. It's a whopping fifty cents a quart. We were thrilled with what we took home. Many strawberries were as large as a kiwi. They all smelled so good, and the taste did not disappoint, but as we were processing all those strawberries and I came across some small strawberries one of my children had picked it got me thinking. We aren't all a large, super red, awesome strawberry on the outside, some of us are the ones you wouldn't expect would be picked, and still, God chose us. 
     When some may judge us and pass over us because of what they see on the outside, there is a Father in Heaven who chooses us always and doesn't care what we look like, act like or smell like (LOL). It's nothing we do to be chosen, He simply loves us. 
     Why had my child chosen those few puny strawberries? Why did they think those strawberries were worthy to be chosen? Maybe they weren't worthy, but still, they had been chosen. God knows we aren't worthy, and still, He picks us. If we pick Him back, we get to be with Him and bask in His glory for all eternity. How amazing is that? God loves each of us so much. It doesn't matter what the world sees, He sees something else, something more, something He loves so very much.
     If you're ever in a situation where another person makes you feel unworthy, know that the opinion that matters is that of God and He says you're His, and you're loved. I pray this will be an encouragement to many today. Know you're important, even when man might say otherwise.
     If you enjoyed this read today please leave me a comment and like and share this blog with your friends. I would appreciate it. Be blessed and lean on the Father for His understanding and not your own. Until tomorrow...

XOXO
Jen