Friday, October 5, 2012

See Me.

Please forgive any incoherent thoughts today.  I finally went to sleep after 11PM last night only to wake up at 2AM... and never returned to sleep!  When your mind is full, sometimes sleep is elusive.  But everyone once in a while, I feel a strong calling to write something very specific on this blog, and today, I have a message to share.

I know this will come as a surprise to those of you who know me in person, but as a child, I was a "Kick-Me-Kid."  You know the one:  I was last-picked at gym-- likely because I was terrible at any sport involving a ball... or climbing... or running... or sweat.   I had a hard time making friends-- because I was, (pick one)-- needy, bossy, afraid of confrontation, teacher's pet, attention-hogging, who knows.  I was a teacher's kid-- as in my Mom was THE English teacher for our school-- and nothing says "popular" like the straight-A kid of the English teacher. (note:  sarcasm)  Add to this that my school only had 15 kids in my GRADE, and you've got one nice recipe for

LEFT. OUT.


Fortunately, things changed for me when I went to high school for several reasons.  First, there was a HUGE ocean of students in which I could hide OR thrive:  440 kids in my grade alone... and all kinds of kids!  Tall kids, short kids, smart kids, arty kids, techy kids, bandos, hoods, goths, singers, student-counsel-power-people, homecoming queens and kings.  The sea of students was huge and wide and diverse... and heavenly.

Because there, I finally found people who "got" me-- People who didn't see a "kick me" sign on my back, but saw the "SEE ME!" sign up front.  People who ignored the "needy" and saw "funny" ... "clever" ... "hilarious," even.  People who (grudgingly?) accepted the "bossy" (the trait that would later make me a really good first grade teacher), but also saw the creative writer, the dancer, the musician (mostly heart vs. talent, but a musician nonetheless!), the thinker, and the loyal friend.  And now I'm blessed - because I have found good, solid, help-you-bury-the-body-in-the-backyard-friends who accept me in all my quirky, funny, awesome glory.  And to be honest, I don't have to be friends with people who don't!  What a freeing concept!  I can be polite and friendly, but I don't have to open myself up to people who don't get it.  And that is... well... awesome. :)  Because God made ME awesome - just like he did with you:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -Ephesians 2:10 NIV

He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
    and all his ways are just. -Deuteronomy 2:4 pt 1 NIV

I wish my "kid"-self could have known such great things lay ahead!  

Another child I know is dealing with a version of the same issue right now.  This child is quirky, goofy, creative, hilarious, witty, sarcastic, and more.  And for the most part, he has "never met a stranger."  But he and another kid he'd really like to be friends with just. don't. get. each. other.  They don't speak the same language, and I'm not talking about English!  I'm talking sarcasm vs. literal, goofy vs. serious, free-thinking-vs-straight-arrow.  It's frustrating them and for both families because they bring out the worst in each other.  However, I was reminded last night (or possibly early this morning, remember I've had just 3 hours of sleep), that God made all sorts of masterpieces:  the silly ones, the serious ones, the creative ones, the mechanical ones, the bossy ones, the quiet ones.  ALL of these children are important in their own way - and they have all been bestowed with amazing gifts that will serve them well later in life (EVEN IF those same gifts are hard to handle now).  

These two kids might have to settle with "friendly" vs. "friends." -- Which is such a hard lesson to learn!  Because it is NOT okay for either kid to be in a situation where EACH one makes the other one feel badly.  But for both of them, it is important to remember that their respective quirks and gifts have meaning and significance; they just might not know yet what for.

I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. 
-Romans 8:39

God has GREAT plans for you, Kid.  Embrace them, because
YOU
ARE
AWESOME.
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