We live in a world where numbers can become one of the most essential concepts in life. Numbers are everywhere. Money, height, weight, GPA, class rank, etc. While these numbers can be important factors in life, we must remember that we are not defined by numbers. Our worth and dignity as a human being does not come from these numbers. The person who gives us our worth is Jesus Christ. He has an infinite love for us, and His love is the only love we need.

Being five-foot-three, I'm usually not one of the tallest people in the room, and it took me a while to realize that it was OK. I know I'm short, but that's the way God made me. When I was younger and bothered by the fact that all of my friends were getting to wear "grown-up shoes" and I was still stuck wearing "little-kid shoes," (because with being short comes having small feet), my mom looked at me and asked me, "Does God make mistakes?" I was beside myself. How on earth could my mother ask such a ridiculous question! Of course I said no, and my mother continued on to say, "Well God made you, so you must be perfect." Yes, we all have our flaws, but our flaws are what make us who we are. Jesus loves our flaws.

I'm not talking about habitual flaws, but rather the small things that society tells us are flaws. The numbers. The height, the weight, the GPA, etc. Jesus does not care about your GPA. He loves the height that you are.

He loves you for who you are.

I know that sometimes life gets the best of us and we get let down by these lies, but your worth in Christ can never be taken away. Christ died on the cross for your sins knowing that there was a possibility of us never loving him back. That is how abundant His love for you is. He loves your imperfections. He loves your dimples, your freckles, your height, He loves you.

A wise friend once shared a wonderful Dr. Seuss quote with me. It says, "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." Those that you surround yourself with are going to affect the way you see your "imperfections." Surround yourself with the people that are going to lift you up. We should all be working to build one another up, rather than dragging one another down. Life is tough, let's fight together.

Do not be afraid to be who you are. Live out those imperfections to the fullest. Show people that you can be five-foot-three and still quite fierce. Show society that you worked your butt off to get your degree, and you can do the job at hand. You are wonderful the way you are. A beautiful saint, St. Catherine of Sienna, once said, "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire."

The only person that you should worry about impressing is God, and to impress him, all you have to do is love and serve Him. If you do what you were created to do and do it all for the glory of God, you will change the world. God will guide you there. He will show you were to go, all you have to do is ask. James 1:5 says, "If you want to know what God wants you to do -- ask him, and he will gladly tell you."

The Lord will not abandon you. He loves you and you are perfect.