Only What God Thinks

A favorite book of mine illustrates today's objective.

"You Are Special"

by

Max Lucado

Wemmicks...

little wooden people

walk the town receiving dots and star.

Stars represent beauty, talent, accomplishment, popularity

while

Dots on the other hand,
 are given to those

with flaws and imperfections, stupidity, unattractiveness and the like.

Punchinello is very distressed over the numerous dots others continue to give him.

He sees one that does not have a single sticker...
no dots, no stars

and so he inquires.

Image  from Google
 Jesus, one without stickers or dots, leads us to Heavenly Father

(Lucia) reveals the secret lies in the hand of their Creator, Eli

and advises Punchinello to go to Him.
In quiet desperation,
Punchinello goes to visit the Wood Carver.

The Wooden Wemmick is astounded that Eli calls him by name.

"You know my name?"

"Of course.  I made you."
Eli picked him up and set him on the bench.  "Looks like you've been given some bad marks," said the maker.
"I didn't mean to, Eli.  I really tried hard."
"Punchinello, I don't care what the other Wemmicks think."
"You don't?"
"No.  You shouldn't either.  
What they think doesn't matter.  
All that matters is what I think.  
And I think you are pretty special."
Punchinello laughed.  "Me, special?  Why? 

 I'm not very talented and my paint is peeling.  

Why do I matter to you?"
Eli spoke very slowly. 

 "Because you're mine. 

 That's why you matter to me."

Punchinello didn't know what to say.
"Every day I've been hoping you'd come," Eli explained.
"I came because I met Lucia," said Punchinello. 

 "Why don't the stickers stay on her?"
The maker spoke softly. 

 "Because she has decided 
that what I think 
is more important 
than what others think.

 The stickers only stick if you let them.

"What?"
"The stickers only stick if they matter to you.  

The more you trust my love,
 the less you care about their stickers."

"I'm not sure I understand."

Eli smiled.  "You will, but it will take time. 

 For now, come to see me every day and let me remind you how much I care."

Eli lifted Punchinello off the bench and set him on the ground.

"Remember,"

 Eli said as Punchinello was leaving, 

"you are special

 because I made you. 

 And I don't make mistakes."

(RP) summed up PRIDE as caring more about what man thinks

than what GOD THINKS.