I read this the other day, it made me think...

A story is told of a king who went to his garden one morning, only to find everything withered and dying. He asked the oak tree that stood near the gate what the trouble was.

The oak said it was tired of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine tree.

The pine was troubled because it could not bear grapes like the grapevine.

The grapevine was determined to throw it's life away because it could not stand erect and produce fruit as large as peaches.

The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac.

And so it went thoughout the garden. Yet coming to a violet, the king found it's face as bright and happy as ever and said, "Well, violet, I'm glad to find one brave little flower in the midst of this discouragement. You don't seem to be the least disheartened."

The violet responded, "No, I'm not. I know I'm small, yet I thought if you wanted an oak or a pine or a peach tree or even a lilac, you would have planted one. Since I knew you wanted a violet, I'm determined to be the best little violet I can be."


I think this story illustrates a beautiful point. And upon discussing it with a friend today I realized once again, that self-esteem should come from nowhere else than above, in the knowledge of our God we find the assurance of our purpose. Since I know that He wanted me, I'm determined to be the best me I can be.