A couple weeks ago during church, Little Miss’s small group leaders encouraged each child to write a letter to someone thanking them for keeping the peace. Their theme for the month had been “peace” and apparently this was a final activity to drive the point home.
So Little Miss wrote a letter to my Dad and thanked him for serving in the Army and helping keep peace in our world. Then she wrote a P.S.
P.S. My teacher at church made me do this.
She came home and asked Kedron for my parents’ address and she found a stamp (all on her own), and stuck the letter in the mailbox. I had no idea any of this had happened as I was sick that weekend.
A few days ago my Mom called to say that Dad had gotten the letter and that it had made him laugh, especially the P.S.
Since I had no idea what Mom was talking about, I asked Little Miss about it when she got home from school.
“Oh yeah, well we had to do this at church, so I figured if I wrote it, I might as well mail it,” she said.
“And you put a P.S. on it telling him they made you do it at church?” I asked.
“Well yeah, the FORCED us to do that! And I didn’t want him to think I was weird for writing that stuff.”
By this time I was holding my chuckles inside and had to walk out of the room.
But in reality she’s not alone. I often don’t want people to think I’m weird for the things I do and say as a result of following Jesus. Sometimes I hold my words back. I might not write or say what I really believe for fear of being seen as different. Sometimes I may alter my conversations to avoid certain topics. I might shrink back from situations where I think my behavior might be seen as radical. As I continue to grow in my faith and become comfortable in my own skin, it’s still a process of becoming ok with “different” and maybe even “weird.”
Anyone else ever been there? Are there certain groups of people or situations where you don’t want to be seen as weird, or different especially because of your faith?
One person’s weird is another person’s treasure.