Most of my life, I was always consider “The New girl”. I
grew up being a military brat (a child/children whose parent is in the
military) , so we were always relocating, and if we weren’t relocating, we were
visiting other cities, because my dad preached as well. I’ve always had to
either fit in with the crowd, or wait until they accepted me for who I was.
In middle school, 7th grade to be exact, I had a
hard time fitting in. I attended Lake Braddock secondary school. (That school
went from 7th to 12th grade) That school was huge and it was easy to get
caught in the shuffle. I had to make friends, and it wasn’t easy! Most of the
kids knew each other from their old school, hung out with people of their own
race or people from their neighborhood. (This school was very diverse and most of my friends were of other nationalities
and ethnicities. The girls that “looked black”, were really African, or Egyptian,
I think I had only 2 black friends. (Everyone else was from somewhere else, and nothing is wrong with that! I loved having friends from other nationalities. I miss that, I wish Florida was more diverse like that) So
it was hard to really fit in. (Not to mention, I had eczema BAD. I was teased A
LOT because of it)
Now in middle school
most everyone is going through an identity crisis, trying to figure out who
they are. I was one of those people.
Long story short, I changed who I was to be “accepted”. (A lot of that
had to do with my insecurities and being teased.) Only I wasn’t really being accepted,
the false character I took on was being accepted. See back in these days, I was
extremely loud, and defiant. That’s not me, but because that’s what I saw, and
that’s what was being “accepted” I had to play that role. Thankfully I came to
my senses and realized I didn’t have to continue to be that way. (End of 10th
grade, though I did have a smart mouth up until 12th grade smh)
Although I’m out of school, I still see were acceptance
plays a role in our lives. Everyone wants to be accepted by someone. No one wants
to be on the outside looking in. Sadly a
lot of lack of acceptance happens within the body. That same carnal mindset
has found itself in the church. –As my pastor, would say, “There is NOTHING
wrong with the church”- It’s the mindset, and “spirit” of some people IN the church. We have people in
ministry, treating others as if they don’t belong there. People in ministry
have formed this “gang” like mentality and if you aren’t “jumped” in, or if you
haven’t been here since the beginning you aren’t welcomed. People are being
isolated, because they don’t have the same convictions as others, or because
they might be more mature in Christ, than others. People are being left out,
simply because they aren’t liked by others within the ministry. What about that is Christ like?
Romans 15:7 says “Wherefore
receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God”
 |
| Be you. |
I’ve learned that people
that can’t accept themselves can’t accept others. Just like that saying “hurt
people, hurt people”. Those that don’t love themselves can seldom love others, and in order to love you is to know God.
God is love!
Acceptance comes with maturity and/or pureness within your
heart. Look at young children; they can play with each other, regardless of how
they look, where they come from, or their age.
As we grow in Christ, we become more mature, and we are
able to look at people differently. Instead of seeing their differences,
mistakes or flaws, we see them how God sees them, how God sees us. We are more
likely to have mercy on them and show them grace. We’re more likely to see past
their past, and encourage them of their future.
1 Corinthians 13:11
says “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
As Christians it’s time to “put away childish things”, it’s
time to do away with carnal mindsets! Allow God to transform and renew your
mind, so you can accept your brothers and sisters in Christ.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have to realize
everyone isn’t going to put away their childish ways; but we can’t revert back, just because they refuse to change. I know people in the
body aren’t going to accept me because I’m
young in age, or I “look” young, because they don’t know me, or don’t see me
around, or because I don’t meet their qualifications, or expectations or because I have a son and I’m not married. That is not going to stop me from doing
what God called me to do. Don’t let people’s problem with accepting you
stop you from doing what you were called to do. Pray for them. Allow God to work on their heart, and you continue
to love them as Christ tells us to. Watch how things change!
Colossians 3:12-15
says “Put on therefore, as the elect of
God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind,
meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if
any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called
in one body; and be ye thankful.”
Be you, love yourself, and accept who God created you to be. Trust what he put in you. Put your confidence in the Lord!
If you love someone
tell them
I love you
Signed, a Queen who is accepted and validated
by God
p.s Check out my YouTube channel. YouTube.com/NaturallyDes
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