Words to Live By

I didn't want to like this character.

I knew what everyone would think.

"He's short, and she's short. Therefore he WOULD be her favorite character."

It's like when people accuse me of loving Snow White because she hangs out with dwarfs. That has NOTHING to do with why I love Snow White. I've loved her since I was 2 and back then I didn't know I was short.

So I didn't want  Tyrion Lannister to be one of my favorite characters in Game of Thrones. A little irrational? Maybe. But that was how I felt.

Then, as I was reading he gave this advice to my other favorite character, Jon: 

Source

Well, I was hooked.

Because it's true.

This quote is a bit more cynical than I normally would share. However, I couldn't get it out of my head after I read it.

It's about owning up to who you are.

God made you a certain way. He made you - YOU. There is no one like YOU.

Sometimes, there are things we are shamed of, or embarrassed of. It could be how we look, the family we were born into, where we live, things we are bad at, our interests, our past, things we have done, etc.

Own it.

Because there is NO ONE who is just like you.

This is something I've learned (and continue to learn everyday) with being small and breakable.

If people try to tease me or make fun of me because of it, I could let it hurt me. I could hang my head and hide in a corner and pray people ignore me.

But going to people and being all "Yup, I'm short and I break. So what?", they can't do anything about it. When they see that I'm okay with it - everyone else will be too. I had a friend in college and one day she told me that she was always intimidated by me. Then when she learned that I was comfortable with who I am and how I've been created, and I actually LOVED short jokes, she wasn't intimidated anymore.

Or sometimes we do things that are wrong or embarrassing. One of the #1 things we teach the teenagers as we prepare them to be camp counselors is to own up to their mistakes. Not saying that they can do whatever they want or that doing something wrong is okay. But own up to it.

Think about it, when we try to hide something we make matters worse for ourselves. When we own up to it - we can be forgiven. We can let it go and let what's past be in the past. It can't hurt you anymore once you own up to it.

Even Martin Luther said to "sin boldly."

"Never forget what you are."

What else are you going to be? You are YOU. Don't ever be ashamed of that.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

Psalm 139:13-14

You are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made.

Don't ever be ashamed of how GOD MADE YOU.

God doesn't make junk.

God doesn't make something to be ashamed of.

OWN IT.

Own who you are and how God made you.

If you've done something (good or bad) - own up to it.

Brag? No.

Be proud of doing something that was wrong? No.

But living up to it - definitely.


This month's theme is "Words to Live By." Share with me your favorite quotes, words of advice, Bible verse, etc. ANY words that you live by - I want to know!

Email your posts to lovewokemeupthismorning@gmail.com.