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Number 8

I read an incredible book a little while ago titled I Am Number 8 – Overlooked and Undervalued but Not Forgotten by God by John W. Gray III. As I read it, I resonated deeply with the message and encouraging words it offered, and it helped me in areas I’ve been struggling with all my life. I discovered that I’m a number 8. (This will make more sense if you read the book). Since I was a kid, I had issues with feeling overlooked and fitting in. I never felt like I fit in my own family, or even with my friends. I tried hard to find exactly where I fit, weaving in and out of different cliques, with failed attempts at pretending to be someone I wasn’t, and not really measuring up. As I got older I realized that I was never meant to fit. Specifically, not meant to fit in anyone else’s “boxes”, and being overlooked was something normal to me. There were brief moments where I felt I was close to blending in, but it wouldn’t last long. I believe God meant for things to be that way for me for a number of reasons. For example, I was a bit of nerd growing up, so when I started to notice guys for the first time, things got tricky. I always watched my friends get asked out on dates and have boyfriends, and it felt strange not experiencing what they were experiencing. It didn’t happen for me. As a matter of fact, I’d get crushes on guy’s way out of my league and was bold enough to let them know. I even asked one out on a date once (which he declined lol). But having that kind of experience, though embarrassing, made more sense to me as an adult. Thankfully, things have worked in my favor since transforming from an ugly duckling to a swan. I believe God let me grow up having that experience to recognize that everyone starts somewhere and more importantly, to know how to treat people. I know exactly what it’s like to feel forgotten, unappreciated, and misunderstood and I Am Number 8 really dives into the world of anyone who has ever dealt with those kinds of things. It also explores the story of David and his rise from being a shepherd to a King. I learned things about David I didn’t know prior to reading this book, so being introduced to different things that happened to him on his journey was eye opening and inspiring. I don’t want to spill too much from the book, because it’s definitely something worth investing in, but I will share one quote for any and everyone reading that may need it. In I Am Number 8 – Overlooked and Undervalued but Not Forgotten by God John W. Gray III writes, “This is the season of the overlooked. This is the moment of the marginalized. This is the time of the forgotten ones.” If you’ve ever felt overlooked, left out, or forgotten, read this book. It will change your life.

 

 




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