This time of the year the word “enough” is used quite a bit…
After Thanksgiving dinner I said, “I’ve had enough.”
Grandmothers are popular for asking with their sweet voice, “Have you had enough to eat?”
We parents are famous for declaring, “Enough already!”
Exasperation leads us to scream, “Enough is enough!”
When we are fed up with someone or some thing we might proclaim, “That’s enough!”
As conscientious drivers we may ask our passengers, “Are you warm enough?”
Perhaps the most painful way we use the word “enough” is when we subconsciously, unwillingly and fearfully place two little one syllable words in front of the word “enough.”
Two words, three letters and two vowels…
Am I enough?
SeeingGodAtWorkEveryday
Julie and I were dating when we met a most special young lady.
She was in high school.
Her parents were divorced and we became great friends with her mom and stepfather.
We watched her mow through college.
We rejoiced as she earned her teaching degree.
With great pride our hearts swelled as she got her first job.
And of course, along the way a young man came into the picture and before you know it, marriage brought another young man, a little boy, a son. Now she is expecting once again.
She’s the type of woman that if your daughter grew up to be half the lady she is you would be thrilled.
But, she has one particular issue…
“Stupid dad issues…” (At least that’s how she framed the issue in a text to me recently)
If you don’t have “Stupid Dad issues” I bet you have one or more of these…
Stupid Boss issues
Stupid Mom issues
Stupid Husband issues
Stupid Wife issues
Stupid Blogger issues
Stupid Kids issues
Stupid Employee issues
Stupid Enemy issues
Stupid Friends issues
Stupid Self issues
You get the picture…
I don’t know the whole story with my dear friend and her “Stupid Dad” (I say that tongue in cheek!), so this next paragraph is purely conjecture…
In relation to our moms and dads, little girls, along with little boys (As long as our parents are alive we are little girls and little boys) want to know one thing and one thing only…
Am I enough?
We excel in school. We behave. We develop great friendships. We keep our rooms clean and our mouths a little bit cleaner. We win the game. We get the girl or boy. We go to church. We win the approval of our friends and teachers. We serve the homeless. And the question remains…
Am I enough?
With regards to my beautiful, vivacious, lovely friend, I just wonder if her dad has ever taken the time to place his big hands gently on her cheeks with his thumbs perfectly positioned along her cute nose and look deeply in her eyes and say, “Oh dear one, I love you with a deep love that makes my heart skip a beat at the very sight of you. My heart swells with pride at the very thought or mention of your precious name. Hear me when I say, ‘I love you, I am so proud of you and yes, you are more than enough.'”
Jesus was 30 years old when he heard from his Dad for the first time that he was enough.
I was 43 years old when I heard from my dad that I was enough.
How old were you?
Or…
Are you still waiting…still wondering?
I’m not your dad, but I am hoping that you will be courageous enough to do just one thing.
Take that question, “Am I enough?” and rearrange the words and make it a declaration…
I am enough!
The reality is that you really are enough!
If you can make that declaration it just might be the best Christmas gift you will ever receive…
And that would be enough to last a lifetime!
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2. 9 ESV)
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; ¹⁷ and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3. 16-17 ESV)
SeeingGodAtWorkEveryday…
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
ps – To my dear friend with the “Stupid Dad” issues… You are more than enough!!
David@seeinggodatworkeveryday.com