I lost status on March 1, 2015.

Delta Airlines told me so.

The gold status that I had so richly earned and enjoyed for one whole year, well, expired.

The rules changed, and it is likely that I will no longer earn gold status.

Ever again.

No more SKY on my boarding pass to get on the plane early from a special boarding lane.

No more free upgrade to Economy Plus.

No more “Priority” tag on my luggage so it comes off the baggage claim right away.

No more “Thank you for being a priority member” from the ticket agents.

No more “sniff sniff” gold status.

I have been reduced to silver.

Oh, I can still get a free checked bag.

But I have to board in zone 1 now.

I have to pay a bit for upgrading my seat so that my knees aren’t wedged into unlucky passengers back in front of me.

I have to **gasp** wait 5 minutes longer for my bag at baggage claim.

Of course, it could be worse.

On United, I have no status.

I am just “a member”

One who boards last.

One who pays to check a bag. Each direction.

One who pays LOT to upgrade for a little leg room.

One who PRAYS there is enough room for a backpack in the overhead.

Oh wait….

My status in life isn’t defined by how much I pay for something, or how far I go to get somewhere, or even where I am placed in the plane.

My status in life certainly isn’t defined by Delta or United Airlines.

It is not defined by my job, or my title, or my education.

It should not be defined by my ethnicity, gender, citizenship.

My status is completely and only defined by the God who loves me beyond definition, who knows me through and through.

That status is “beloved child of God”, fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

“The word beloved in 1 John 3:1-2 literally means “ beloved, esteemed, dear, favorite, worthy of love”. It’s a word indicating an action on the part of the one doing the loving. The God of the universe, the same God who paints a sunset, shapes a mountain and plans the waves at the beach, has chosen to love us, not because of who we are, but because of who He is. Our role in this is to BE-LOVED. “Ron Edmunson

Beloved child of God is hard to remember when the world defines us, categorizes us, and we believe it.

It’s hard to remember when….

The bully in your own head tells you how bad, or stupid, or inferior you are.

You are picked last in gym class

You fail a test, or a class, or drop out of school

You are laid off

You are tired, worn, frustrated, and giving up

Need a reminder?

Stick a post it note on your mirror. Stick one on EVERY mirror! “This face belongs to a BELOVED CHILD OF GOD”

Sign your name with the initials BCoG (Beloved Child of God) after it.

Read Psalm 139. You ARE fearfully and wonderfully made.

Read 1 John 3:1-2. We are beloved children of God.

Be encouraged, and believe that you are a beloved child of God.

Peace,

Angela, BCoG