I was the type of girl who didn't really fit in. You know, acne, frizzy hair, glasses, cheap clothes, no sense of style, lanky, awkward, nerdy, walking around with a book. I was basically a target for bullying. And, on top of that, I was a sensitive, puberty stricken, 13-year-old who just wanted to be liked by the people who teased her.
Well, one day, it rained, so I wore the only jacket I owned: a snow jacket. It was big and puffy, white, and a little short in the sleeves. It had a blue fleece lining in the snap off hood. The jacket was obviously not as stylish as those of the other girls, and so, Miss Popularity decided to make it the object of a prank. At lunch time, she took a cup of peaches and poured it into the hood of my jacket. All my friends watched as she did it. No one said a word until we we done eating and headed out of the cafeteria. At that point, one of my friends stopped me just as I reached for my hood and told me what had the whole school laughing.
That was a serious low point in my life. At the time, I hated that girl. She had done something I found unthinkable, and honestly, evil. She had hurt me when I had never done anything to her.
But this week, I realized something about myself. I am no better than that girl. In some ways, I am worse. Praise God, I have never intentionally humiliated anyone, or targeted someone in order to bully them. But I have done much worse.
In my heart, and in the quiet leisurely hours of my life, I have rejected the One who only wants to be my friend. I have denied my Savior the love and honor He deserves in areas of my life. I have, in a way, spit on the face of the Man who died out of pure love for me. How easily, like Peter, I reject Him when it is convenient. How quickly, like David, I fall from a point of glory to one of shame.
It brought me to my knees in humble repentance, where I met the open arms of my Savior.
In light of all this, I come to a new revelation of the extent of God's love and grace. And in that, I experience a greater ability through Christ to love others.
A challenge now is posed to you, my dear reader. Search your heart and let God reveal to you a secret shame hidden there. Repent of that sin, and let God pour out His grace on you. Be ready for miracle. Be in awe. And then pass it on to those around you. Love them as you have been loved.
