Who Am I – Too Little

Have you ever felt like you just don’t measure up? Words spoken make you feel small and unimportant? Do you find it difficult to overcome the feeling of small? Unimportant? Inadequate? Not enough?

Growing up, I was the youngest and smallest of four children. I was always the smallest person in my grade. For one reason or another, I was often told that I was too little or too small to do things or participate in activities. Not only was I small, but I also felt small…not enough.

There were also times when I would walk into a room when someone was having a conversation. I would ask what they were talking about. Then the harsh words were spoken, “Oh, you’re too little. You wouldn’t understand.” Ouch! Now the “too little” also meant that I wasn’t smart enough. 

So, for many years, I heard that I was too little, not enough. To me, not enough equated to not loveable, an annoyance, in the way, not accepted, unimportant, not worthy, never measure up, not smart. 

Somehow I knew that my parents did love me but I felt that I would never be able to do anything that would make me feel as though I measure up and they would always be disappointed in me. 

One day, I think I was still in elementary school when I rediscovered a verse from the Bible. 

Jesus said, ”Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 & Luke 18:16 (NIV)

Jesus wanted the little children to come to Him. He invited children to come to Him. He wants to share His kingdom with them. WOW! Little children are important to Him. Only important people are invited into the presence of someone great, into their kingdom. The verse doesn’t specify what children – average height, smart, worthy – just children. All children, no labels or categories. 

At that moment, I felt and I knew that Jesus loves little, unimportant, not enough me. In church, we often sang the song “Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so…” Now I really knew that Jesus loves me for the Bible did tell me so and I believe what the Bible says.

What does that mean for me now that I’m a grown up? What does that mean for you? I’ll get into that more next time. Just knowing that Jesus invites little children to come to Him…it’s a beautiful thing.