Banana Pancakes & The Worth of Souls

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often struggle with self-worth and feeling broken beyond repair. We often hear that we are at greater risk of depression, suicide, low self-esteem and the list goes on but this does not determine our worth.   

“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God" 

Doc & Cov 18:10

The other day as I was running out the door I grabbed a banana quickly and threw it in my bag to eat later.  I ended up carrying this banana around with me for a few days without eating it.  After returning home from a long day I pulled that sorry looking banana out of my bag and thought, "Ooops, that doesn't look good anymore."  The banana was bruised and scrapped up and then...I accidentally dropped it on the floor. 

My first thought was, "Well, there is no way I'm eating that thing now. Its going to have a major bruise soon and be mushy and gross."  I instantly related to that poor banana sitting on my floor.  As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse I've felt bruised, worthless, and of no value after being mistreated.  What was this little banana good for now? BANANA PANCAKES!

This little banana, seemingly worthless to eat after being abused, still held great value and purpose. 

A few great things you can make or do with busied bananas:

Banana Bread

Banana Pancakes

Use as a substitute for sugar in cookies

Roast with chocolate, marshmallow, and granola

Treat insect bites, buises, cuts, and scrapes

Polish leather and silver
Fertilize your plants
Treat damaged hair

Whiten your teeth

I bent down and picked up my bruised banana with purpose and conviction.  Even though I would not eat it plain it was going to bring me great joy when I made banana pancakes in the morning, something that wouldn't taste as good made with an unripe banana. 

I have been wronged and abused however I AM STILL OF WORTH and have gifts, talents, and abilities due to my life experiences.  My bruised banana taught me a very valuable lesson; regardless of how my journey in life has been, I still hold value.  I may not be a banana you want to eat on its own but I can make bread sweeter, heal wounds, and make someones morning bright with a big pile of pancakes!

"God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him. May we ever believe, trust, and align our lives so that we will understand our true eternal worth and potential." (You Matter to Him, Uchtdorf)

 “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” (Marianne Williamson)