I love when some of the biggest life lessons happen over a five minute discussion….in the car. Last year, my morning school drop-off routine consisted of driving my oldest daughter to her school, and then a quick five minute drive to drop my youngest to her’s. I love those rare occasions when I get one-on-one time with my girls. It’s definitely a luxury, and I always looked forward to this brief time with Katherine, my youngest.
Each morning I would try to do a quick check-in with her. Those check-ins typically consisted of short questions like, “How are you feeling today?” “Is there anything exciting happening at school this morning?” Or sometimes we simply recited some of our favorite Bible verses together, to help her prepare for the day, like Phillippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
Most days, her answers to my questions were peppy retorts and excited responses about the upcoming day’s activities, but this day was different.
It was a beautiful autumn morning and the changing leaves on the trees were ablaze with color. As we drove the quick route to school, I asked her how she was doing. Instead of her normal, “I’m great, Mommy!”, response, instead she said that she was sad.
She began to explain that something had happened at school that made her feel different than the other kids. She was struggling with being set apart and she didn’t like it one bit. As a momma, my heart was breaking for her, but I knew that this was going to be a good learning moment.
Just a few days before she had pointed out a large maple tree at the edge of the playground whose leaves had turned a gorgeous red color. She mentioned that the kids always commented on how pretty that tree was when they ran outside to play for recess each day. Everyone loved the “red tree”, and she was right, it was stunning.
So as she was pouring out her heart about feeling different, I listened, and then began sharing what started bubbling up in my heart. This is how the conversation went.
Me: “Katherine, you love fall, right?”
Katherine: “Yes Mommy, I do!”
Me: “And you love how the trees change color and create this beautiful mix of yellows, oranges, and reds, right?
Katherine: “Uh, huh.”
Me: “What do you think fall would look like if all the trees turned yellow and there were no other colors?”
Katherine: “It would look pretty boring.”
Me: “You’re right. Fall would look pretty boring and we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the beautiful variation that we see now. And what if the red tree that all the kids love wasn’t there, or if it were the same color as all the other trees around it? How would that make you or your friends feel?”
Katherine: “They would be sad because they would miss the red tree.”
Me: “Honey, I want you to be the red tree. God made you the way He did for a reason just like He made that beautiful red tree for a reason. There are going to be times when you aren’t going to fit in with the rest of the crowd or you may have beliefs that are different than others around you, but you need to be the “red tree”. Don’t be afraid to stand out. There may be times when it’s not an easy thing to do, but without the “red trees” this world would be a dull and boring place. Be proud of the beauty and the potential that is inside of you, no matter what anyone else says.”
By the time we had arrived at her school, her demeanor had completely changed. We pulled into the parking lot and there next to the fence was the gorgeous red tree in all of its glory. I pointed to it and said, “There it is honey. Look at how beautiful it is. Now go and be the red tree today.”
A smile broke on her face and she slipped out of the car and skipped into school. It was a great reminder for me too, of the importance of being okay with going against the crowd sometimes. God made us all different and special in our own ways. If everyone was the same, how boring this world would be.
Psalm 139:13-14 says, “You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother. I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.”
It can be hard feeling like you’re the one fish swimming upstream some days. But just like a fall season with only yellow leaves, if this world didn’t have YOU, and all the uniqueness found in each and everyone of us, it would be a boring place.
Don’t let the fear of standing out keep you from stepping into your purpose. You are not an accident. God meticulously created you for a reason. You weren’t meant to blend in or get lost in the shadows. Be the “RED TREE” and don’t be afraid to stand out and shine in all your beauty and uniqueness.
Beautiful!
Love it, Jamie! We all need to be a red tree. You are a natural teacher.