God,

As we go through our day today,
Remind us of our worth.

Remind us that our value is not
Determined by the work we perform
How much we serve
What church we attend
How much we give.
What we do
But solely in who we are.

You have placed value in all your creation
And we too often put our own ranking
On ourselves and on others.

As a result, we’ve created division;
Labeling individuals as the less-than,
The Outcast
The outsider.

Help us to recognize and honor
The true value of others;
Help us to also accept and honor
The true value of ourselves.

We have been taught to be humble,
And that can often result in us
Diminishing our own worth.

Teach us that humility is not an act
Of devaluing
But of not overvaluing.
That to love our neighbor demands
That we must love ourselves.

So help us today to see our value
As you determined

With the giving of breath
Of all good things
With life itself.

Amen.