There Will Never be Another You.

Story by: Randy Grathen

There was a young woman at our church who had just become a Christian. A friend suggested she could use some encouragement, so about once a month I wrote an anonymous letter sharing my thoughts on faith and being a Christian.

Even if you could clone yourself - a perfect DNA match, you would still be one of a kind.

You are one of a kind, never to be duplicated. You and you alone are the sum total of your life experiences. All of them, good and bad have shaped who you are today. But no matter who you are, you have the unique opportunity to change who you will become. As a daughter of God-your-father you are of royal blood. You became a new creation in Christ. King David wrote “For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb.” psalm 139-13

It’s hard to know an invisible God. But if you watch, with the new eyes you've been given, you will learn to see His hand and His plans unfolding in your life.

If I had a daughter, I would want her to know . . .

You are of infinite worth! So valuable that Jesus died on the cross for you, paid your ransom so you can claim your inheritance in heaven.

You are not an object. Not a sex toy or a doormat for a man. Don’t settle for OK, but you will probably have to work up to “great” as you learn to build and grow a relationship. The man in your life should bring out the best in you, not belittle you to make himself feel important. The Lord has someone picked out for you. You'll find each other. Don't rush - don't settle.

Don’t hang out with losers. The best you can ever aspire to is to be the “best” loser in the group. Instead find the smartest, happiest people you know that will let you hang out with them then listen, question, and learn. If you know someone that has the kind of life you want, don’t reinvent the wheel, find out what they know. They’ve already done the hard work and most people are more than happy to share what they’ve learned.

A Cord of Three Strands. A forehead-slapping moment I only recently learned myself. Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” My marriage has surpassed anything I could have ever hoped for or imagined, and it is still evolving. We “learned” our way to this point, and it’s taken a long time to get here. We finally understood that we are partners in this journey of life, not rivals. We share the same life vest. We are not fighting each other for our own pleasures and survival. We take joy in watching each other grow and succeed in life. We support each other and their ambitions. But if '...two can defend themselves.' Then why is a cord of three strands mentioned? What or who is the third strand. We finally figured out that God is the first of the three strands. When we are wrapped tightly around that first strand, nothing can defeat us.

People speak of the "joy that surpasses all understanding?" Philippians 4:7 “Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Because Laurie and I know who we are in Christ, and where we are going, this adventure we are on together; filled with various trials, has made us stronger and deepened our relationship with God and each other. When we go through the valley, He is with us. We are never alone. And it just keeps getting getter year after year.

Remember to take time each morning to lay your new day before the Lord. Offer it up to Him to take charge of and follow where He leads you. I can’t wait to see what he does in your life.

"Thank you Heavenly Father for your faithfulness to protect us, prosper us, guide us, and give us the peace that surpasses all understanding. Until You call us home..."

Postscript: Laurie and I have survived having an F-4 tornado destroy our home in Missouri while we were in it. We just went through Hurricane Ina last year as 156 mph winds battered our house for 6 hours. I've fallen out of a high-lift and been T-boned by a truck. Laurie has now had three cancer surgeries. Two in Missouri and has just been given the all-clear on her third one on July 19th of 2023. Our cord of three strands remains strong. I don't know how we would have coped without it. God bless you all...

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