John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

During recent extreme weather, when our temperatures dropped down to between -35 and -40 degrees Celsius, my old mare, Mama died, no longer able to withstand such temperatures. We do not know for sure how old she was, but after speaking with her original owner this past summer (horses often have many different owners in their lifetime), we are sure that she was at least thirty or older.

When Mama came to us, she had been rescued from the slaughter house. She had broken some bones in her knee, which left her unable to be a brood mare, a riding pony, or a cart horse. She had thus, for most, lost her value and had become a writeoff.

For us, however, she was a lot more than a writeoff. She was a wonderful companion for her colt Frank, whom we also purchased. She was deeply loved by my young granddaughter, whose face would light up as she ran across the corral, yelling, "Mama, Mama, my Mama!" And Mama would always come to her and let herself be kissed by this adoring two-year-old. As the matriarch of the corral, our three goats followed her everywhere and looked to her for leadership during times of crisis. She also brought all of us adults joy just to see her grazing contentedly on the property throughout the good weather months, doing her part to keep the brush chewed down and under control.

No, Mama was definitely not a writeoff — and neither are any of us, when it comes to God. It doesn't matter who we are, or what mistakes we have made, or what condition we are in, mentally, physically, or emotionally. Each and every one of us is valued by God, just for who we are, for He created us and loved us enough to send His only Son Jesus to die for us that we might by faith in Christ have our sins forgiven and gain an eternal relationship with Him. He not only wants a relationship with each one of us, but He also has work for each of us to do:

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)

Today, if you are feeling like a writeoff, stop and consider the truth. You are not a writeoff! This is a lie! You are God's workmanship and He can never stop loving or forget about you:

Isaiah 49:15-16a – Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. (NIV)

Prayer: Father God, thank You so much that no one, not one single person in this world, is viewed by You as a writeoff. You have created us and love us and have a purpose for each of us. Bless and encourage each one today who may be feeling discouraged, depressed, or hopeless. May the truth of Your love and care, and our value as human beings in Your sight, reach deep into our very souls and bring healing and peace to our situations. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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