When I was a child, I was a bit of a misfit. In those days I was too skinny, a know-it-all, I had coke bottle glasses and wore all the wrong clothes. I was not what you would call one of the "in crowd" and yes, there's an "in crowd" even in the Third Grade. One thing I did have was a wonderful relationship with Jesus. That's how I recognized Him in other people.
One afternoon, a little girl in my class did something amazing. We were all about 8 years old. She was the prettiest girl in the class, maybe even the school. She was very well off, and very popular. (She had multiple birthday party invitations every week!). One day, she asked the teacher if she could rearrange the tables and change the seating around. For some reason (popularity, maybe?) the teacher let her.
Everyone snickered as she started gathering up the "misfits" and putting them at one table, having other people trade seats with them. I was already at that table, and she didn't move me. Then, the most astounding thing of all...She took the last chair at the table. Even as young as I was, I knew that I'd just witnessed some sort of holy, defiant act. We would have crowned her queen, but we never got the chance.
The first thing she did was tell each one of us why she wanted to sit at a table with us. She told a little boy (named James) that everyone picked on that he was the nicest boy in the school because he never did the same mean things back that other people did to him. She told me that she always wanted a smart friend who was as kind as I was. She told one very chaotic little girl that she was so creative and picked beautiful, fun things to wear. (This little girl started the trend of mismatched everything! )
The funny thing is, I don't remember her name. Just her honey blond hair and her sweet smile, and the most incredible act of goodness that I'd seen up to that point in my life. I decided then and there that if I was ever "popular" or "one of the good kids" I would do exactly what she did. She had God's heart. Later on, I realized I didn't have to be in the "in crowd" to love people, to include them, and to tell them exactly how wonderful they are.
One afternoon, a little girl in my class did something amazing. We were all about 8 years old. She was the prettiest girl in the class, maybe even the school. She was very well off, and very popular. (She had multiple birthday party invitations every week!). One day, she asked the teacher if she could rearrange the tables and change the seating around. For some reason (popularity, maybe?) the teacher let her.
Everyone snickered as she started gathering up the "misfits" and putting them at one table, having other people trade seats with them. I was already at that table, and she didn't move me. Then, the most astounding thing of all...She took the last chair at the table. Even as young as I was, I knew that I'd just witnessed some sort of holy, defiant act. We would have crowned her queen, but we never got the chance.
The first thing she did was tell each one of us why she wanted to sit at a table with us. She told a little boy (named James) that everyone picked on that he was the nicest boy in the school because he never did the same mean things back that other people did to him. She told me that she always wanted a smart friend who was as kind as I was. She told one very chaotic little girl that she was so creative and picked beautiful, fun things to wear. (This little girl started the trend of mismatched everything! )
The funny thing is, I don't remember her name. Just her honey blond hair and her sweet smile, and the most incredible act of goodness that I'd seen up to that point in my life. I decided then and there that if I was ever "popular" or "one of the good kids" I would do exactly what she did. She had God's heart. Later on, I realized I didn't have to be in the "in crowd" to love people, to include them, and to tell them exactly how wonderful they are.
Love it!! It really is a reminder of how pure at heart we can be, how we can open our hearts and our arms wide and love others! Judgements totally aside! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's true, it's true! <3
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