Shine bright like a diamond, nah I prefer to shine bright like a star…
The name Esther is believed to mean, “star” by many biblical scholars. She was made the Queen of Persia after a crazy series of events including a year long beauty preparation and contest… Not something I’d want to sign up for b/c I’m sure waxing/plucking and who knows what else was included in this…I barely got a runner up position in the Miss Merry Christmas pageant in my high school which I’m sure wasn’t due to the lack of hair spray it took to get my hair that high up! While doing some cleaning last year, I found the pictures from that pageant and my mom hadn’t cut a single one to give out to family/friends. They were still intact in the package…how humbling…I feel the love, mom.
Esther must have been beautiful but she ended up shining like a star by realizing one of the purposes of her life. During her reign as Queen, an evil man who hated her people talked the King into killing them. Her cousin, told her “if you keep quiet at this time, someone else will help and save the Jewish people, but you and your father’s family will all die. And who knows, you may have been chosen queen for just such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14) I love this verse!
Sadly, many people neglect to see or find any meaning in their lives. Just like Esther, you were designed for a special purpose(s) and there is an amazing plan for your life to do good if you so choose. A lack of meaning and purpose or simply perhaps forgetting one’s purpose leads many individuals sadly to go thru challenging times such as a mid-life crisis or worse…suicide. This is not the only reason for suicide, but those who are struggling with such mental pain and agony and can’t see a reason for living, end up making the wrong choice.
How can we help? First, we need to stay mentally healthy by taking care of ourselves. Second, we need to love those around us by paying attention to them. Parents need to spend quality time with their children (even teenagers). Friends need to lovingly confront their friends when they notice changes. We also never need to be so prideful that we forget to ask for help.
Lastly (but not least), trust and believe that God has an amazing plan for your life. Jeremiah 29: 11 says, “…the Lord says, ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.'”God’s plan could include you feeding the poor, teaching children, raising children, teaching others, healing others thru health care services, etc. Don’t take anything you do lightly or for granted. Changing one person’s world by feeding him for example is changing his world! What have you been chosen for today? For such a time as this…
Do you still think I’m normal?
You don’t know how much that comment helped me!