When I was a little girl, I wanted to be my sister. Like most younger siblings, we do not grasp the whole “younger” thing and simply see our inadequacies in riding a bike, climbing a tree, making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and tying our shoes as just that – inadequacies. I used to cry for hours because she could spell better than me – well, she was 2 1/2 years older – I should hope so! I saw being younger than Renie as the “worst nothing anybody could do about” scenario any girl could find herself in.
My grandmother saw it differently. She herself had been a little sister – she knew what it was like – her governess had actually told her she was “stupid” because she couldn’t do what her older sister could do. But my grandmother took another approach.
She became UN-apologetically who she was.
Psalm 139:13-14 says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Why would God take the time to make us all so different and unique? Seriously – our very own personal set of fingerprints? No two people are exactly alike; and yet, He could have made it so much easier on Himself and made us all alike. Since God has plans and purposes and directions, we must assume there was a specific reason He made us all so differently. The reality is, He made us all so differently because we all have a reason to be here.
Imagine getting to Heaven and God saying, “I’m so happy you are here, but I am so sorry you never became who I made you to be.”
We’re all so busy trying to be this and that – maybe we need to be who WE are. Maybe I need to stop apologizing for what I can’t do and start doing what I can. Maybe you need to stop trying to be someone you weren’t made to be and start being who you are. UN- apologetically.
The other day I was confronted yet again with a particular person who does not like me. There have been times when I retreated; allowed the abuse; hid under the covers; but, I’ve come to the realization that his/her not liking me has nothing to do with me. It is a flaw within him/her. I do not have to apologize for being who I am – neither do you. We need to stop trying to fit the molds society asks us to fit – political correctness, societal boxes, popularity pressures – and start fitting the mold God specifically made just for us.
Be who God made you to be and stop apologizing to a world where you do not belong. Make Him your center and start being you.
