Forever Seen

Dull gray eyes stared back at me in the mirror. Unimpressive, unimportant, unseen. That’s how I felt—invisible. Would anyone notice if I were gone? Would anyone really care? Contemplating my apparent superhero power of invisibility really lifted my spirits. Sighing deep, I tried to stop the tears from leaking from my eyes. As I turned my back on the mirror, wondering if I even wanted to face one more day, I noticed a small bird perched on a branch right outside my window. I edged forward slowly for a closer look. The bird seemed to stare straight into my soul, unafraid, as I moved closer to the window. It was a tiny sparrow. Deep in the recesses of my heart, a memory stirred. Something I had heard when I was a child: “Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” I could not even recall where I had heard this or even how old I had been, but the words in my mind blazed brighter than the sunrise. I snatched my phone off the bed and searched the words. They came from Matthew 10:29-31, and they were in red. Further investigation revealed that the red words were the words Jesus spoke. Sinking onto my bed, I gazed out the window and let the tears spill. This time, they were not tears of discouragement or dolor. No, these were tears of joy and promise. I was not invisible. I was known, wanted, loved, and forever seen. • Savannah Coleman • When we feel hopeless, Jesus sees us and cares for us. Where do you need hope today? • If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You can also talk with someone via web chat at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat • If your situation is potentially life-threatening, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to the local hospital emergency room right away. • If you need someone to talk to but are not in need of immediate help, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31 (NIV)