For those of you who don't know for the past two summers, I have worked at our local parks and rec. district as a day camp counselor. I work mostly with ages 5-8 and every week the theme of the camp is different. During my last week of work, I got to embrace glitter and giggles as I lead Unicorn Camp with 25 little five-year-old girls (yes, you're imagining it correctly). My days at work never look the same, but this particular incident that occurred hit me hard and has stuck with me for the past week.
At this camp, there was a little girl named Sara*. She was sweet and all the girls loved her. Sara was definitely the biggest girl there, she was a good six inches taller than every other little girl and still had her sweet baby fat, but her smile lit up the room and there was no doubt she was just the cutest little girl you've ever seen. After lunch one day I saw across the gym (we were inside due to weather) her standing in the corner. Confused, I asked one of the other counselors what was going on. The other counselor explained that some of the other girls had said she was "too big" to play with them. At first, I was shocked and horrified that this was happening between five-year-old girls, but it hurt my heart to see this and I immediately went over to talk to her. A few minutes later she was back smiling and playing with the other girls, but my heart still ached over what I had just witnessed.
The problem was I remember being told I wasn't good enough back in my early years of elementary school. I'll admit those comments I don't remember super well and never really think about them, but I do think about comments I have gotten throughout my life that do repeat over and over in my head sometimes. Everybody has gotten a not so nice comment about them and everyone struggles to fight those lies with the truth of that no matter what we are enough.
I'm always someone who thinks about conversations after the moment in which they occur and sweet Sara, I have so much more I want to tell you. This is for all the little girls in my life, my future daughters, and even for the almost adults who still hold on to that ugly piece of childhood:
Dear Sara,
You are loved and you are worthy. I can't say it enough. I wish I could tattoo it on your heart so that you would never forget. I know you will though. There is going to be a day you wake up wishing to be somebody else. A day you look in the mirror and want to change everything about yourself. But, darling, you are a creation of the Lord. You were created in His image. You were created for His purpose (to make that clear, that is not the purpose of pleasing anybody else with your appearance). You are wonderful, you are beautiful, and you have the power to change the world.
I pray that every day you would remember these absolute truths, but most importantly I pray for the days you forget them. On those mornings your hair seems so bad you can't leave the house I pray that you would turn your eyes to Jesus and realize that He is the only One who can satisfy your hunger to please the world. You are already enough for Him and that is the absolute truth- it will never change.
"O my love, you are altogether beautiful and fair. There is no flaw or blemish in you." -Solomon 4:7
*Changed name to protect privacy.
At this camp, there was a little girl named Sara*. She was sweet and all the girls loved her. Sara was definitely the biggest girl there, she was a good six inches taller than every other little girl and still had her sweet baby fat, but her smile lit up the room and there was no doubt she was just the cutest little girl you've ever seen. After lunch one day I saw across the gym (we were inside due to weather) her standing in the corner. Confused, I asked one of the other counselors what was going on. The other counselor explained that some of the other girls had said she was "too big" to play with them. At first, I was shocked and horrified that this was happening between five-year-old girls, but it hurt my heart to see this and I immediately went over to talk to her. A few minutes later she was back smiling and playing with the other girls, but my heart still ached over what I had just witnessed.
The problem was I remember being told I wasn't good enough back in my early years of elementary school. I'll admit those comments I don't remember super well and never really think about them, but I do think about comments I have gotten throughout my life that do repeat over and over in my head sometimes. Everybody has gotten a not so nice comment about them and everyone struggles to fight those lies with the truth of that no matter what we are enough.
I'm always someone who thinks about conversations after the moment in which they occur and sweet Sara, I have so much more I want to tell you. This is for all the little girls in my life, my future daughters, and even for the almost adults who still hold on to that ugly piece of childhood:
Dear Sara,
You are loved and you are worthy. I can't say it enough. I wish I could tattoo it on your heart so that you would never forget. I know you will though. There is going to be a day you wake up wishing to be somebody else. A day you look in the mirror and want to change everything about yourself. But, darling, you are a creation of the Lord. You were created in His image. You were created for His purpose (to make that clear, that is not the purpose of pleasing anybody else with your appearance). You are wonderful, you are beautiful, and you have the power to change the world.
I pray that every day you would remember these absolute truths, but most importantly I pray for the days you forget them. On those mornings your hair seems so bad you can't leave the house I pray that you would turn your eyes to Jesus and realize that He is the only One who can satisfy your hunger to please the world. You are already enough for Him and that is the absolute truth- it will never change.
"O my love, you are altogether beautiful and fair. There is no flaw or blemish in you." -Solomon 4:7
*Changed name to protect privacy.
Comments
Post a Comment