I started this post on September 11. I was thinking of all the grief and heartache associated with the events of that day. It was a hard day for me, because I had just brought home my newborn daughter on September 10, 2001. I got up really early to nurse her the next morning. We were living in Alaska at the time on an Air Force Base, pretty much as far away from New York City as you can get. I turned on the tv to see what was on at about 4:55 am, which was 8:55 in NYC. The news was about a jet that had crashed into one of the WTC buildings. Everyone was trying to figure out how this horrible accident had happened. Eight minutes later, I was still watching the broadcast and saw the second plane hit the other tower. I think I realized it was an attack before they even started talking about the possibility of terrorism. I held my brand new baby girl in my arms as I watched thousands of people die, in real time. It’s been 18 years. I thought the trauma of witnessing that event had abated a little. Then, last week, my husband and I were in NYC for a little anniversary getaway, and he took me to see the 9/11 memorial. As I touched the names engraved in the memorial, I felt a wave of sadness for all those lives that were cut short that day. I watched those people die, either in the initial impact of the crash, or later on when, faced with a horrible fiery death, I saw people jumping out of the buildings. They didn’t get to see their babies turn 18 and go to college this year, like I did. Or become grandmothers, or celebrate 27 years of marriage, like we were doing last week.

We also saw Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton while we were there. The music and the messages were amazing. My mind kept going back to the ideas that “no one deserves to disappear” and that it matters that there is someone “who tells your story”. I think so many of the issues we have today, from depression and anxiety to social media bullying to suicide, are an echo of those themes. Everyone needs to feel that they matter-that their triumphs, struggles, and everyday lives have an impact on the world. Not just the people who died on 9/11. Or who have thousands of social media followers. Or who play pro sports, or star in a tv show, or on Broadway, or helped write the Constitution. Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, or a fighter pilot, or a teacher, or the garbage man-sorry, sanitation worker- YOU MATTER! Especially the sanitation worker! (I can’t get over the amount of trash in NYC and I’m grateful that someone picks that stuff up! They’re truly unsung heroes.)

Worth is a daily battle

This concept of feeling of worth, and that we matter, is a daily battle. It shouldn’t be. But I think the amount of stress and adversity we feel daily has caused most of us to have a baseline emotional reading of “not that great” or “things are hard”. Don’t get me wrong-things are often NOT that great and often it’s VERY hard. But here’s something you need to remember. (I’m including myself, too.) Shared by our prophet a few weeks ago on his Instagram @russellmnelson.

“Great power lies in learning who you really are. Please take time to think prayerfully about these facts:

YOU are an elect son or daughter of God.

YOU are created in HIS image.

You were taught in the spirit world to prepare you for anything and everything you would encounter during this latter part of these latter days. That teaching ENDURES within you!” –President Russell M. Nelson

Let’s just review those three things:

You are a child of God. You are created in His image. Before this life, you already had the tools you need to deal with everything this life will throw at you.

I don’t know about you, but that makes me feel so much more confident. That I knew what this life would hold for me, and I was ALREADY prepared. That preparation endures with me, and if I just ask God, He can help me remember!

I want to introduce you to a very special girl.

This is Rachel. She is the daughter of some of our friends from college. They struggled with infertility, ended up adopting a little girl, and then found out they were expecting Rachel. Rachel was in a hurry to be born, and she showed up around 24 weeks ( I think-correct me if I’m wrong, Heather). She weighed ONE POUND. Her dad could put his wedding band on her wrist. She was a fighter, and hung in there in the NICU until she was well enough to go home. Life has not been without its challenges for Rachel. She was developmentally delayed and has had to struggle to communicate with her family and others. She probably won’t really be able to live on her own, or marry, or have a family of her own. She won’t be on Broadway or have 100,000 followers on Instagram. But she has blessed those around her with her darling personality and desire to work and learn. One day this past spring, she won a library award for reading the most books in her high school. She was also selected for another “transitions spot” at the high school she attends, where they have some programs for kids who are older than high school but not really ready to join the mainstream. And a favorite student award. She told her mom she was “chosen”. What a beautiful reminder of truth from this beautiful girl!

We are ALL chosen. Chosen by God to have this mortal experience. Chosen to come and be challenged and overcome those challenges so that we can help others with theirs, as well. Chosen to share our light, our own gifts, and especially the love of God with others.

In a world where we are waiting for the next “like” or “follow” and the dopamine hit that comes with it, let’s remember we are ALREADY “liked” and “followed” by the Creator of all. He doesn’t believe anyone should disappear-and He gave His Son so we can feel that we MATTER to Him. That love they have for us is so much more enduring and powerful than a dopamine hit. That love they have for us was strong enough to give the Savior the courage he needed to perform His lonely, excruciating task. It was strong enough for God, the Father, to allow His Beloved Son to be scourged, mocked, crucified, and to even have to withdraw the comfort of His presence so Christ would know what it was like for us to experience the absence of the Spirit. That love they had was strong enough for Them to CHOOSE me. And you. So, Rachel, sweet girl, you ARE chosen! And WE are all chosen, too.

Before I go, here’s a beautiful visual reminder of this.