I’m feeling particularly grateful today for a God who loves and values me – no matter what.

I learned of the deaths of three people yesterday.

Around mid-afternoon I heard on the local radio news that a second young boy had died as a result of severe burns suffered just weeks ago.  His brother passed away from his injuries just days ago as well.  The boy was only eleven – the same age as my son.  My heart ached for this family and the unimaginable pain they have had to endure.

Moments later the national news came on the radio and announced the death of Farrah Faucet.  Her public battle with cancer had captured the attention of many in recent months, as those who had grown up with her on their TV’s and locker doors now watched her fight to stay alive.

While I was cooking dinner last night I turned on the evening news, only to learn of Michael Jackson’s sudden death.  I stopped in my tracks and listened and couldn’t believe what I heard.  The news anchor said something like this: “We were going to begin tonight’s broadcast with a story about the passing of Farrah Faucet.  But we just learned that there has been an even more tragic death of an American icon.”  Maybe it’s just me, but if I was a loved one of Farrah, I think that might have felt a little like salt in a freshly burning wound.

Thirty minutes of the news frenzy was all I could handle.  I opted to watch the NBA Draft instead.  But sadly, it wasn’t much different.  These talented guys were being unabashedly compared to one another and those before them and were being numbered and labeled and SOLD and TRADED.  The whole process is really disgusting when you think about it.

This was all  fresh on my mind today.  I know this is how the world works.  We categorize and judge.  We reward the winners and we forget about the losers.  It starts in the sandbox, escalates in high school and explodes in the workplace.  It has been the song of the ages and will continue for decades to come.  In this world.

Which brings me back to grateful.  Because THIS world is temporary.  But our God is eternal and He sees value and worth in all of us.  His love is not dependent upon how well we perform or how famous we are.  I believe God’s heart broke just as much for the burn victim as it did for the Pop Icon, and I wonder if  it doesn’t break each time we choose the world’s opinion of our worth instead of His.