Becoming a Butterfly

Today at camp, it was water day.   The kids were super excited about it…and couldn’t wait for the games to begin.

They all took off their t-shirts and ran for the sprinklers.

But there was one little boy that was about to cry.  He was in a quandary.  He was pulling on his t-shirt and I could tell he was distressed.  I asked him, “Don’t you want to go and play in the water.”  And he said, “No I am embarrassed.” 

“Embarrassed?”  I asked

“Yes, I don’t want to take my shirt off.”

“Well, leave it on.”

“No, I don’t want it to get wet.”

“Well, then take it off.”

“I can’t, I am embarrassed.”

“What’s wrong, do you have a scar or something you don’t want people to see on your chest?”

“No…I am fat.”

 ”What?  No you aren’t!”   (he was definitely not fat…very normal weight)

“Someone told me I am.”

“Well that person lied to you…and that was rude.”

“I know I am normal…but my brother said I am fat.”

“You are normal, completely normal…and you are definitely not fat!   You are fine….don’t be afraid.  Your brother was wrong.   And you are ok.  If you were fat, there would be a bunch of stuff here on your arm….but there isn’t.”

“I know…I am normal.”

And with that last statement the shirt came off…and he walked slowly to join the group…   His arms were tightly around his chest…but soon he spread his wings and flew through the sprinklers with the rest of the beautiful butterflies!

Got me thinking…

How powerful words are…

How many times we believe the lies that the devil tells us?

Y’know in the bible he is called the father of lies, and the accuser of the believers?

And if he can’t get to us…then he uses people around us to curse us.

People that mean a lot, like moms, dads, brothers, sisters, husbands, wifes, friends, teachers, bosses…

or even people that aren’t that close to you…their words can cut too…and make us start believing lies about ourselves.

My challenge to all of you is to think about it…and discover at least one lie that you are believing about yourself…and then deliberately replace it with the truth.

Ok…I will start.  

“I am not good enough”

…that is a lie…

I am valuable…priceless…cherished…special…Psalm 139

Jesus died for me…John 3:16

I am not only good enough, but I was made in His image Gen 1

He chose me to be His daughter 1Pet 2:9

and saved me.

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is NO OTHER name [besides [[Jesus] under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”