Y is for You are Special: Library Notes

You are Special is a book by Max Lucado that expresses the unconditional value of a person. There is no condition added to that. It is not you are special if you are handsome, intelligent or successful. You are special for who you are regardless of where you are along the spectrum of humanity. 

I first want to remark on the fact that this story tells us that our value is in God's eyes. The only One who can truly know who we are and has the ultimate right to judge us not only for our actions but for our very thoughts if the same One who looks at us and lovingly says, "You are Special". Nobody else can evaluate us as God does so their opinion of our value is not very important in comparison and yet He is the one who holds us up high.

You are special is a message I want the world to hear. I want people to recognize the value of human life and appreciate people in their lives whether they particularly like them or not. There is a phrase that everyone is someone's son or daughter. Someone gave them life, loved them, fed them and cared for them. They were special in someone's eyes even if you do not see that in them today. Still, there is value in their life. Hopefully their role is not to emphasize the contrast between black and white or good and evil but that they did other things of value. Did their smile encourage someone one day? Were they a friend to someone in a time of need? Were they the reason a nurse was able to work and feed their family? Did they offer a reason for hope or a warning to someone who needed it? 

This book is the story of a "Wemmick" from Wemmickville where they regularly judge their residents and give either a gold star sticker or a grey dot sticker. One wooden puppet becomes covered with grey dots and is very discouraged about his value until he visits his creator who carved him with his own hands. The Wemmick, named Punchinello, learns of his value and the truth of this is transforming!

I welcome you to discover the book for yourself and trust you will discover many fun activities to do in connection with the text and pictures. However, I really want to emphasize what YOU need to know in honour of the letter Y. YOU need to know you are special! YOU need to know your worth is not in your performances, funds or looks. YOU are special just because you lived. You have value. You are Precious. Please don't ever forget that!




 

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