Society has its own personal way of being stereotypical and just downright annoying. You can imagine my disbelief when I walked into a supposed "place of worship", as a child, only to be told that I was not welcome. After asking why, I was told that there is no room. I did my own scan of the room and fixed my eyes on a completely empty row of seats in the front with chairs stacked beside it. I pointed in that direction and asked "What about those?". The pastor responded in a frantic voice and informed me that I was not welcome and that I should go to a church where I would "feel more at home" and understand a deeper message. As he continued walking me to the door I took one more scan of the room and realized what he meant. Every face in the room, although diverse, had one thing in common -- they didn't look like me. Every face turned to look at me and I had never felt so much like the odd ball out. If you haven't guessed it yet, I had just been put out of a church for something I had no say in. I got put out of a church for being black. That one situation caused me to miss church for the next 8 years.
As a child, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why I couldn't be this or why I couldn't be that. I conformed to the acts of my peers in an attempt to blend in only to find that I always ended up more alone than when I started. I spent my 1st 2 years in high school alone, shy and timid not only because I was scared but because I had no idea who I was. It wasn't until halfway through my 11th grade year that a stranger stopped me and informed me that God told them to tell me "There is greatness in you child, how could you have not seen it?" I cling to those words everyday. The incident with the church only validated exactly what I was told.
Often times when we as people do great things others scroff at it or make us out to be less than we are. But I encourage you today to be bold and know that there is no need to conform. You can't change how others see you, you cant even change what category people choose to put you in. I encourage you to do these things:
1. Love yourself because you are flawless. "You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you." (Song of Solomon 4:7)
2. Be brave and encourage yourself. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
(Jeremiah 29:11)
3.Forgive, forgive, and forgive again. We are all on this journey through life and the next person is no different. "When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)
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