Taron (my son) and I were talking about the Olympics. He came and asked me what was the one sport that I watched and most people wouldn't think I would like. My answer was easy and automatic - synchronized swimming. I was actually mad at the score TEAM USA got the other day when they did this robot routine. To my untrained eye, they were flawless.
I've learned over the years to think - be - outside the box. I'm different from the norm. I actually like it now. In my younger years, this was an issue. I thought being accepted was being like everyone else. I went through an identity crisis where I didn't like my own handwriting. I wanted to write in bubble letters like some friends of mine because I thought it was so cool. I tried and tried to write like them, but it didn't work. My handwriting was just not the same. I finally accepted it and had to move on. This was one of the first big "tragedies" of my teenage (or pre-teen) years. Oh - not to be like everyone else.
It wasn't for years later - let's say almost 20 - that I learned to embrace myself - my craziness and all. (Jesus, I thank you for working on my mood swings.) I stand in this. I stand in me. Who do you say that you are? Who do you embrace when you look into the mirror? Years ago, I wrote out these Affirmations. I read them to myself each and every morning. Reminding myself of who I was, what I was - beautiful, intelligent, gifted, wanted, blessed and more. There are times in life where we struggle with ourselves and the pressures of others to look a certain way or speak a certain way or talk a certain way become overwhelming. People have committed suicide because they couldn't cope with their inability to conform to the "norm".
But conforming is what led the children of Israel to disobedience. Round and round they went for years and years. Obeying God one minute and disobeying Him the next. Assimilating to those around them and embracing the idols of the religions in which they lived. Assimilation is not what we are to do. 2 And be not conformed to this world.... (Romans 12:2 NIV).
Be A Blessing and Not Just Blessed
- Nakya
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