To All Those Who Have Ever Felt Different

To My Two Darling Children - I love you for who you are

(And to all those in the world who have ever felt different)

There is this common phrase, it's infiltrated our schools, our work places, our political agendas, our churches and even our thought life.  

"We don't want anyone to feel different"

I remember the feeling

It sinks heavy to the pit of your stomach

Different

Size, Skill, Skin color, Beauty, Voice, Comfort in a crowd, 

Presence, Body language, Temperament, Personality, 

I was tall, my legs long and big, my voice carried, my hair was frizzy, but my eyes pretty  

I was poised on the outside but inside insecure, quiet and shy in a crowd, caring but unsure

Myself with only a few

Caught in comparison - different felt like a bad thing

And comparison, It causes us to doubt that different was designed

So at first listen

"We don't want anyone to feel different"

Sounds harmless, good, maybe even a little like equality

And I am for equality
But I am NOT for an equality that drains the color, individuality, and God infused uniqueness from the world

I want to feel different
And
I want you to feel different

Different is defined as: "separate or distinct, not identical, unusual, not ordinary, differing"

You are distinct - the ONLY you

From your finger prints and skin color to the way you process emotion

You are not not identical

From the curve of your lips to the width of your hips,
From allergies to peanuts, gluten, bees, pollen and cats
To the cow lick in your hair, the way your joints bend or the way you clumsily fall into a room
Embrace the way you were made, and treat your body well

You are unusual

Built uniquely with your own strengths, weaknesses, passions, ingenuity and intelligence

Don't compare and don't conform 

Know your weaknesses, grow your strengths, pursue the passion implanted within you 

Be creative, and be intelligent enough to understand the difference between Truth and knowledge (there is a difference)

You are not ordinary - you are beautiful

Fashioned with the color of the heavens in your eyes, tones of the earth in your hair and the unfading beauty that is the outpouring of your heart
Your heart, not the bleeding beating organ but the emotional guts that drive hands to help, a spirit to pray and a body to rest

You differ

Born to lead or teach or comfort or follow and each, with their own set of responsibilities 

If to lead, lead well

If to teach, teach truth

If to comfort, comfort wholly and freely

If to follow, follow wisely

You are separate 

Created with talents, and skills unlike any other

These are for you to use, not to squander in selfishness or bury in fear 

Use them for the glory of the One who made you

For the relief and refreshment of a world in need
And for the betterment of others

I am different

And

You are different

What if we stop being afraid of different?
What if we start celebrating it?
Talking about it?
Building a world that didn't judge it or waste time comparing

What if we look into a room of color and uniqueness and felt like a missing piece of the puzzle

Instead of something that didn't fit in? 

What if we decided to feel different?