I’m headed to the Relevant Conference next week, a conference that exists to minister to the woman, the blogger, and the storyteller. It is an honor to serve as a speaker at this conference, to look into the eyes of friends and writers — to speak truth, to have truth spoken, to listen, and to move. When you stand in a room with that many women, there is a temptation to make yourself big, big, big. Oh, to know the kindness and acceptance of Jesus in the midst of a crowd of successful people.
I believe we are called to embrace our own smallness. If the world had more people who understood their smallness, the world would be different. Blessed are the small and humble among us – those who see the world in a way that understands they are not the center of it. When I remember that the world does not revolve around me, I can stop trying to make it spin and instead enter into it, free.
Today is day 22 in 31 Days to Change the World. Read the series from the beginning here. And if you would like to have Chatting at the Sky delivered into your inbox, subscribe here for free.
Those are some very cute baby feet!!
you better promise to tell us all about the conference. thank you in advance. : )
entering into the world free?! now i like that.
So looking forward to meeting you this week!!!
Understanding my smallness. Not running the parade (Rom 3:27 msg). Thank You Emily.
it’s so hard though! yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh (that was my cat. He agrees)
Oh, if we could but “laugh at our smallness” as N.D. Wilson would say! We are but a snowflake in this blizzard.
Beautiful words… gonna go hang onto this spinning world and be free, to laugh!
JOYfully in Him,
Kelli
A beautiful, simple, but poignant message. Thank you.
My 31 Days series is about Smaller Living.
You said it all in one, small post.
Beautiful.
Can’t wait to meet you in person, Emily!
I absolutely love this. It goes against everything the world tells us. And yet I think you are so right. True freedom doesn’t come in our bigness, but in our unique smallness. Acceptance of who and where we are.
“Oh, to know the kindness and acceptance of Jesus in the midst of a crowd of successful people.”
Love that. Especially as one who has longed struggled with feeling small, but who is also now, with the Lord’s help, learning to embrace my smallness. Someone who is learning that instead of trying to be everyone’s favorite, I can rest in the fact I am favored by God. Someone who is learning that instead of trying to be better than everyone else, I can simply be my very best because of Christ in me.
Definitely tougher in a crowd of successful people, though.
So thankful for His love.
Yes, yes, yes….
This is how the world is really changed, by a willingness to be small — to do small things with great love. And that is, in its own important way, … HUGE.
Love this Emily! The concept of changing the world, yet being small and insignificant. An oxymoron at first, but the deeper truth – amazing. Thank you, as always.
I can never tell you how much I love your posts on smallness. I am small of stature; I like to think it has helped, a little bit, to learn what it’s like to be small of self.
I texted this to my friend the other day when she asked for an update from me, “I realised over the past few weeks how broken our human body is. How the spirit of God that lives within is unable to express its fullness through us. How our capacity is so limited. How we are in control of squat. That’s been so humbling and the journey now is towards really figuring out who God is if I’m to trust Him with all my days and my heart.”
To be humbled is … pretty insane. Just ordered your book “Grace for the Good Girl” and am looking forward to reading it
I’m good with small.
( and we’ll meet someday. we will )