Accepted

Accepted.  One word with eight seemingly unassuming letters can mean so much.  As children we want to be accepted by our parents, our friends, our coaches.  As teenagers we want to be accepted by our peer groups.  There are so many variables that go into being accepted.  We want to be accepted by this club or that group.

My daughter is a senior.  We are waiting for acceptance letters.  She is applying for colleges and the idea of being accepted is both exciting and nerve wracking.  What if she doesn't get in to the right school?  What if she doesn't get in at all?  What if she is like Kimmy Gibbler from Full House and gets denied by the entire state?  Those are thoughts she has had.  She has actually said to me "What if I get rejected by the entire state like Kimmy Gibbler?!"  That is what it is like waiting for the mail to arrive.

She is not going to be rejected by the entire state, of this I am sure.  I explained to her that if it was possible for me to get into college then for sure she will get in.  Yesterday a college admissions counselor called to talk to her and as she wasn't home he told me that she has been accepted to their school.  The relief of hearing those words is like coming up for air after being under water with no idea how to surface.  Every day it is a mad dash to get to the mailbox to see if there are any fat envelopes addressed to her.

Accepted.  Such a powerful word.  I think on these things and I wonder how long we wait to be accepted.  In college?  Sorority or Fraternity?  Dream Job?  Spouse?  Our own children?  I think some people wait their entire life to feel accepted and I think they look in all the wrong places.

Matthew 6: 25-34  25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  28And why are you anxious about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin,29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat:' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Where are you looking to be accepted?  Whose approval are you seeking?  The verses above remind us of how much our heavenly Father loves us and how greatly accepted we are.  What more could you ask for?  It doesn't get any greater than that.  There is no higher level of acceptance.

As we seek acceptance to our earthly dreams and desires, let us not forget to seek God first and acknowledge our acceptance in Christ.  Philippians 4:13  "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."  Even get into college.