I’m Special

Sarah and Kim, two young teenage Christians, taught us the Graham Kendrick song ‘I’m Special’ in church about thirty years ago. It was seen to be a children’s song; I love it because it is simple yet profound, powerful and meaningful, to people of all ages.

I’m special because God has loved me,
For He gave the best thing that He had to save me;
His own Son Jesus, crucified to take the blame
For all the bad things I have done.

Thank You Jesus, thank You Lord,
For loving me so much.
I know I don’t deserve anything.
Help me feel Your love right now,
To know deep in my heart
That I’m Your special friend.

It tells of a Father God who sends his Son, Jesus, into the world to die. It’s a personal song, because it explains how this crucified Jesus affects me… I’m special, I’m loved… I’ve been given a gift, I’ve done bad things… I’m forgiven, grateful, undeserving, God’s ‘special friend’.

At church this morning four people will tell their faith story and will be baptised in our baptismal pool. Each of them has had tough stuff in their lives – mental health issues, addictions, family difficulties… but in each of their journeys they have come to faith.

It’s been many years since we last sung ‘I’m Special’. We shall sing it this morning. It’s been chosen by one of those being baptised; it’s entirely appropriate for each of them. In their individual, unique circumstances each has discovered that they are the special friend of the God who loves them and the Jesus who died for them.

And Sarah and Kim, who I identify the song with? Their lives went in very different directions. Sarah is married with a young family and is now a minister in a church. Kim became a beauty queen, but her troubled life ended tragically earlier this year. However, both have known, and lived in the truth of, the ‘I’m Special’ that they learnt all of those years ago.  

And I have too.