We all have heard about the ugly duckling. He compared himself to the
other ducklings in the nest and found he was different. Since he took a
lot of teasing, he considered himself ugly indeed. What he didn't
realize was that he was beautiful in his own way. He wasn't a duck at
all, he was a swan!
When I first began school, I felt like I was
an ugly Grizzly. I couldn't compare myself to a duck, as I had never
quaked before, but I sure could growl!
You see, I was very
different from the other students in my class. I was a francophone in a
school filled with people who seemed to speak gibberish, for I had never
heard Dutch before. I was completely out of my element. Eventually I was
able to speak this strange language, but never like those who were
native born. They seemed to have it made while I still struggled to put
simple sentences together.
My looks were quite different as well.
I wore coke bottles over my eyes, due to my very strong prescription
glasses that seemed to make numerous circles enlarging and deforming my
eyes, transforming my looks into an ugly Grizzly in the eyes of my
companions. Many snickered behind my back because of this.
No one
ever told me about my Heavenly Father. Nonetheless, I can still remember
vividly being a baby in the arms of my mom, thinking: "I am so happy to
have such a nice mom. Thank you God for my wonderful mom who cares so
well for me." Even though I have erred many times, I was always aware
that I had a Father who cared for me. This, too, put me at a
disadvantage, as most of my school companions did not believe in God.
As a result of all this, I was the laughing stock of the school, and
at recess I spent my time with the younger children. At least the little
ones appreciated me.
I truly felt like a fish out of water, for I
truly believed I was too different to be loved. When someone is mocked
day after day, that person can't help but feel totally rejected,
deformed, not realizing that I was, indeed, beautifully made.
Each one of us is carefully created to be a work of utter beauty. Yes,
when compared to other species, we may look ugly, but when compared to
our own, we are truly beautiful. After all, we Christians are a
different species, for we belong to the Most High Himself. I was
fashioned after my Father's heart, I am one of His sons, I am glorious!
A butterfly doesn't have to strive to be a butterfly. A whale
doesn't have to do anything to act like a whale. A grizzly doesn't have
to take a textbook to learn how to act as a grizzly. Each one was born
the way they are, delightfully beautiful by their own rights, and so are
we.
Let's not compare ourselves to others. Instead, let's compare
ourselves with the reason we have been created, for God has great plans
for each of us. We who believe, were reborn in our Father's image, and
since He is gloriously beautiful, we are as well: "For you have been
born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the
living and enduring word of God." (1 Peter 1:23, NIV) We don't have to
learn how to live as a Christian. It comes naturally as our Father
guides us through His Holy Spirit all the way to heaven (See John 16:
13).
It is true that some apply layers of mascara, symbolically
speaking, to look like Christians, but no matter what they do, they
stand out. Why? They don't know the One personally: "And I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-
the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither
sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will
be in you." (John 14:16-17, NIV)
We can't hide our true selves
without losing our essence. We were created to be who we are, and we
don't need layers of make-up to look beautiful. Let's be ourselves.
Let's embrace the identity our Father has given us. Only then will we
become truly alive like never before.
"When you were stuck in
your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God
brought you alive-right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins
forgiven" (Colossians 2:13, MSG)
You are truly so beautiful!
Rob Chaffart
The Ugly Grizzly. Alive Series, Part 6
Today's Bible Verse:
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your
works are wonderful, I know that full well." (Ps 139:14)
The Ugly Grizzly. Alive Series, Part 6
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