Seeds of Greatness
Column by Lady Catherine Beatty

The above caption is the title of a book written by T.L. Osborn. This book is a classic on human value and is an inspiring guide to the discovery of self dignity in God’s redemptive plan. I will use excerpts from the book as I tell you a true story of Beauty and the Beast.

We’ll call this young lady Mary to conceal her true identity. Mary is a beautiful, intelligent young woman who made some bad decisions, most of them in the last three or four years. Her mother and father divorced when she was very young, and he has been an absentee father for the biggest part of her 26 years of life. I believe Mary, like so many others, longed for a father’s love and approval. When that desire couldn’t be satisfied, she turned to other men to fulfill her longing. But as we all know, that isn’t the answer. Mary began to drink to hide or maybe deal with her pain. Little by little the shame and hurt she felt became too much and her drinking took over. Family and friends tried to help, but through some misguided attempts, it just made things worse. Mary’s self value as a human being was so degraded that she became involved with a man who controlled, used, and beat her on a regular basis. Dave (not his real name) and Mary have lived on the streets off and on for a year. Dave has abused Mary physically and emotionally. She has been beaten severely and still has scars from the cigarette he used on her. He has broken her nose, dragged her through the streets, and many other things.

I recently was able to spend time with Mary, and during that time discovered some horrifying truths about why she continues to stay with Dave. The answer wasn’t something I hadn’t heard before, but it was the overwhelming truth in which she believed it that was so disturbing. "Mary," I said, "why do you continue to go back to Dave and allow him to abuse you?"

As she looked up at me, her eyes red and full of tears, she quietly said, "Because I deserve it. I’m worthless. It’s just what I deserve. There isn’t a decent man around that will want me after the life I’ve lead. I know God thinks I’m just horrible. Why would he forgive me?"

Dave has convinced Mary that everything is her fault and he is the innocent one. So no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t convince her of her great value and that God has already forgiven her. The Beast of guilt, shame and hurt was living strong in the Beauty. Satan, the real beast, had used people and circumstances to rob her of the beauty of God’s love for her.

As tragic as this story is, I believe many of God’s children allow the same kind of abuse in their lives. We haven’t fully discovered our self dignity in God’s redemptive plan. We know we are saved through the blood of Jesus, but like Mary we continue to hold on to unforgiveness, guilt, and hurt from our past. We allow Satan (the beast) and our self to abuse us emotionally, beating ourselves up with guilt over our mistakes.

Subconsciously we are saying, "I deserve to be sick, I deserve to be poor, and I deserve to be treated this way because I’m just no good." So we become both the abused and the abuser. I believe that’s why so many of God’s precious children are so down trodden. We feel so much quilt and shame that we can’t forgive ourselves; therefore we lose sight of how valuable we are to God. When we feel condemnation, we find it hard to forgive and to receive love from God or others.

Mary and Dave are not lost causes and neither are you. Let’s stop the abuse for things that Jesus already took the punishment for. You are greatly loved. "God paid a supreme price for you, the blood and life of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He would not pay that awesome price for a nobody. He would only pay such a price for a Somebody."¹ You are a VALUED SOMEBODY.

"Discover the value God places upon you, stop condemning yourself and others. Start believing in what God has created you to be, then you can start believing in God’s love plan for you. Never demean -- always esteem."¹ God doesn’t make mistakes; He created you in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). "God loves you so much that He gave His son Jesus to assume all of the legal punishment, judgment and condemnation for every sin you have or will ever commit (2 Corinthians 5:21)."¹ Since Jesus died on the cross for you and took your punishment, you are free from guilt and judgment because no crime can be judged twice and no debt can be paid twice. Not only is that a spiritual law, but it’s also one of our own laws.

Accept the fact that you are valuable because our Father in heaven has place value on you. "Know you have the right to be esteemed because God esteems you."¹ He came to save the lost, not the perfect. He came to give us life and that more abundantly. Let the tragic lives of Mary and Dave be a learning tool, and step up to a higher life in Jesus. Continue to pray for Mary and Dave, (God knows their real names) that they’ll quickly discover their value in God’s great love.

The book You Are God’s Best is an excellence way to discover God’s love and how valuable you are to Him. You may purchase the book from any bookstore or order it through Global Publisher, Osborn Publications, P.O. Box 10, Tulsa, OK 74102.

Until the next time ladies, don't forget the harvesting of your great seeds.
~ Lady Catherine

¹ T.L. Osborn, You Are God's Best! (OSFO Books, 1984).

About the Author:  Lady Catherine has ministered to women for fifteen years. During this time she has been a guest speaker at woman’s conferences and churches. She was the founder of the Women of Distinction Organization, which helped women rise above the poverty level and find their purpose in life. Her company, Destination by Design is the Life Coach connection for women who desire to find balance in their personal and spiritual life. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. You may visit her web site at LadyCBeatty.48days.com, or email her at lcbeatty@bellsouth.net.