My favorite shirt when I was little said in bright sparkly letters, “I’m somebody special.” I kept it long after it no longer fit me because knowing it was there felt comforting.
At one point in later years, I said in an exasperated tone to my boyfriend at the time, “I want to feel special!” I guess I was hinting that some sort of gift from him would help with that. He showed up a few days later with some chocolate that had been on sale at a local market. To signify the marked-down price, there was a red sticker on it that read “special” in cursive. While the gesture was endearing and briefly made me smile, it didn’t resolve the feeling that I wasn’t special.
At the time, I was struggling with feeling unsuccessful and comparing myself to others who seemed to be doing much better in many aspects of their lives. I realized that it was going to take more than a sparkly shirt or a gift to heal the void I felt.
I had learned through Christian Science that each of us is part of God’s good and beautiful creation. So I sought encouragement in that idea. Christian Science also teaches that our true identity and value are found not in material circumstance, but in spiritual substance.
In Psalms, the Bible describes us as God’s masterpieces: “I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous!” (139:14, Contemporary English Version). Since God is Spirit, this marvelous creation described here would not be made of material elements – it would be entirely spiritual. What makes us wonderful must be spiritual qualities.
Those qualities can seem sort of abstract. It might be easier to see oneself as a person with certain physical or emotional characteristics than to see oneself as composed of things like integrity, patience, and strength. But these qualities are actually so much more substantial and reliable than a set of traits that could change based on circumstances. What truly makes us marvelous is more our innate ability to express compassion toward others, for instance, than a cool haircut or skill at planning parties – though those types of things can hint at these deeper aspects of who we are.
As I prayed about all this, I began to see that being spiritual means we are free from the limitations of matter. Recognizing this gives us a higher and more meaningful sense of our worth and uniqueness. It enhances our concept of our identity in ways that improve our mental as well as physical well-being. Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science, writes, “The individuality of man is no less tangible because it is spiritual and because his life is not at the mercy of matter. The understanding of his spiritual individuality makes man more real, more formidable in truth, and enables him to conquer sin, disease, and death” (“Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p. 317).
I also reminded myself that this applies not just to me, but to everyone. It was helpful to move my focus off of myself and take note of the substantial qualities others were expressing. At the time, I was working in a prison with young men who had been labeled as high risk for recidivism. But considering things from a spiritual view, I could readily see their kindness, resilience, and dedication to something good despite these confining societal labels. Some of them went on to contribute meaningfully to their communities upon their release.
One of these former inmates told me how much he appreciated my efforts to always treat them with respect and to see their inherent dignity. And ultimately I found myself feeling more satisfied and at peace with who I am – recognizing that my worth is not dependent on others’ opinions or my circumstances at a given time.
There are still moments when I wish I could just put on a “somebody special” shirt. But I find great comfort in reminding myself of Psalm 139’s message that everything God does is marvelous. We can’t stop being God’s wonderful children, and we’re all inherently capable of knowing, feeling, and living this. Unlike some chocolate that is temporarily on sale, each of us is divinely labeled with a spiritual “sticker” representing how perpetually unique and precious we are. We might outgrow a shirt or a situation, but we can never outgrow that sense of being truly, deeply special.
