Growing up and in my BC days (before Christ), I was labeled as stubborn by my parents. Somehow I came out of the womb contrary to all their expectations ~ and they let me know it. Some tasks just didn’t come ‘naturally’ for me ~ I had to ‘learn’ how to do them (and how to sort of like doing them, or at least pretend). My preferences for certain things were not in alignment with theirs and it frustrated them to no end. Can anyone relate?
I was not cut out to be a nurse or doctor, not a pharmacist nor lawyer, and certainly not an engineer (math and I were not great buddies). My preferences were way different and very difficult to explain. How do you describe ‘a little bit of this and a little bit of that …’ when you’re being judged before you open your mouth?
And yet, I was a straight-A student, even graduated a year earlier (I skipped the fourth grade) ~ school came naturally for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the learning process. In fact, I was uber hungry for knowledge. Yes, I was the geeky kid with glasses in the sixth grade, not-cool clothes, and head buried in the books. That was me. Never gave my parents a hard time in that regard.
But I also held my ground when it came to what I chose to get involved in and what I would walk away from. And that’s when the label of stubborn and feisty was placed upon me. I didn’t fit their expectation. Seemingly, it carried over in school sports ~ being picked (almost) last to be on whatever sports team. Clumsy and awkward, unable to throw a softball straight or catch it in mid-air. I would be the kid likely to get hit by the tetherball from the back of the head (for those of us who remember what that is).
And yet, there was something inside of me ~ that quirky seed (if I may say that) ~ I believe GOD planted there ~ that kept me resolute about maintaining my stance and walking ~ even when it meant walking alone. Yes, I was feisty and determined. However, unchecked feisty as an adult without Jesus becomes troublesome.
There’s purpose in that quirky seed of your personality. Whether you see yourself as awkward and clumsy, lacking the ability to sing on key, choosing to spend a lot of time in research and analysis, feeling comfortable in not-so-cool-clothing, or dancing with two-left feet and that can’t seem to find the beat. GOD has purpose for all of that. That’s what makes you one-of-a-kind. So stop trying to be someone else.
I’m one of those that didn’t grow up knowing what an ‘inside voice’ was. My family rolls on multiple conversations going simultaneously in the same room. Like jump rope, you gotta know which one you want to enter and just go for it. And by all means, speak up!
Sweet Friend, GOD intentionally planted that quirky seed and will grow it into the most unexpected gorgeous bloom of a woman. As you surrender your natural gifts and talents (remember: He gifted those to you, you didn’t develop those) to Him, He will multiply them and you will do the unimaginable! You will encounter people, places and assignments you never thought you would experience.
When I finally had my come-to-Jesus-meeting as a 17-year-old freshman in college, it was an awakening of grand proportion. Jesus died for me. That truth rocked my world.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV
And then like onion skin peels back and the tears flow, the realities of my life were revealed.
When I came to understand (and I’m still learning) the magnitude of the patient love of GOD, I was brought to my knees. I was shown mercy where it should not have been shown. He waited for this feisty child to come around by turning around to see Him. As I look back over those early years with Jesus, I am humbled to see His Hand over my life before knowing Him, as I came to accept Him, and even now as I walk with Him going forward.
I, by the Grace of GOD, have been redeemed. And if you have accepted Jesus, you have been redeemed. If you don’t yet know Jesus, He waits for you to accept your redemption too, Friend.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, John 1:12 ESV
GOD has redeemed this feisty child with the quirky personality and transformed her stubbornness into strength that lives out the life He has designed for her (which is far better than what I could ever carve out for myself). He has placed a crown upon my head and calls me worthy of being His Daughter. All because I have surrendered to Him and made the choice to live my life according to His Design.
If you’re on the fence about what I’ve said so far, do some research on proven people with their own quirky seed of personality: the apostle Paul (formerly Saul that persecuted the early church), the apostle Peter (who was overly ambitious and had difficulty with tact), Simon the zealot (formerly a militant form of a Jewish bounty hunter ~ who was also among the chosen twelve of Jesus followers), Matthew (formerly the tax collector who swindled his own people to live comfortably in collaborative treason with the Romans), king David (anointed as king when barely an adolescent), Esther (also known as Hadassah) who went along with the flow until her former teachings (thank you Uncle Mordecai) kicked her into gear, Rahab (quick thinker on her feet) who ultimately became part of the lineage of Jesus, Ruth (turned her back on her family and culture to follow GOD) also gave it all up not knowing that she would also become an influential woman in the lineage of Jesus. These are just a few that you will find in the Bible.
Go ahead, do the research. You’ll find each one had their own quirky seed of personality that when surrendered to GOD, grew, flourished and transformed them into the person they were meant to be for His glory.
So, don’t write yourself off and think you’re just odd or strange and have no purpose. You were not meant to do life from the sidelines. Friend, your purpose has yet to be lived out and GOD wants all of you there ~ including your quirky seed of personality.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
Titus Two 