Like many PPN family homes, ours is filled with excitement and preparation for the Middle Primary Concert, Max Lucado’s “You Are Special”. While listening to our son practising, I was caught by the final chorus of one of the songs where Eli the toymaker (who represents God) is singing to one of his creations.

Don’t you know I made you?

Don’t you know I never make mistakes?

Every time I see you,

There’s a smile upon my face.

Can’t you see your value,

Because I’ve chosen you by name?

So, forget about dots and stars,

Because I made you the way you are.

And I love you for who you are,

You are special!

This made me think of an interview I heard recently with the late James Earl Jones. Jones was born in Mississippi in 1931 during the time of racial segregation. He became a selective mute at age four after developing a debilitating stutter. He did not speak at all until his final year of high school when his English teacher introduced him to poetry. What a miracle that a child who had not spoken for 13 years opened his mouth at the age of 17 and the most famous voice of all time spilt out!

We know that Jones voiced Star Wars villain Darth Vader and the Lion King’s Mufasa, but his career was filled with stage and screen performances that greatly forwarded the Civil Rights Movement within the entertainment industry and beyond. He was the first African American actor to win a Tony Award and many actors, including Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington, credit him with blazing the path that made their careers possible.

Jones’ amazing life story reminds me of the way our God can use us to serve Him in ways we could never imagine possible, and that both our strengths and weaknesses make us precious to our loving Father. Romans 8:28 tells us “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”.

As we enjoy the performances of our Year 3 and 4 students in next week’s concert, I pray that all our precious PPN students (and their families) will know how “fearfully and wonderfully” they have been made by God to serve Him and others, and how much He delights in them.

God bless you all,

Kelly Pridmore

Year 2 Class Teacher, Values Coordinator, Lower Level Leader and Acting Assistant Deputy Principal