"Sticks and Stones"

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 168 -

Watch Out!

Incoming!

They say kids can be cruel.  They can say the meanest things.  I bet if we took a head count, everyone would remember the poem,  “Sticks and Stones”   from their childhood. 

“Sticks and stones

will break my bones,

but names will never hurt me.

Call me this.   Call me that.

Call yourself a dirty rat!”

Were you called names as a kid?  It seems like no one was exempt from the game.  If you were heavy, it was “Fatso!”  If you were tall and skinny, it was  “String bean.”  If you had big ears, it was  “Dumbo.”  If you had a big nose, you were called  “Pinnochio.”   If you were the class clown, they called you  “Bozo.”  If you were smart, they called you  “Brainiac.”  If you weren’t so smart, they labeled you  “Dummy.”  If you wore glasses they called you "Specks."

Oh my gosh… the list went on and on.  Just writing this out now,  it feels as if an elephant just sat on my chest.  Yikes!  The heaviness of it all!   Couldn’t we have found a nicer game to play?

I know I was called a few names in the day, and I didn’t much like it.  When I was in fifth grade, a sixth grade girl pulled me aside on the way home from school one day.   She said that a boy we both knew,  (who was a neighbor and playmate of mine for years – which I just happened to have a crush on) --  was talking to her and called me all sorts of names.  To be honest, I didn’t even know what some of the names meant, but I could tell by her tone they weren’t very nice.  I just shrugged my shoulders at her and went home.  When I got to my room I closed the door and cried for an entire afternoon.  I never did go around my old school friend again.   Too bad, he was a nice boy.  Not to mention, that all the things the girl said were probably just lies!  But who knows that when they’re ten years old?

The LORD had an interesting talk with me this morning.  He told me that a time was coming in which people are going to talk about me in a not so nice way.

“They’ll say this, and they’ll say that.

Blah!   Blah!   Blah!   Blah!   Blah!

They’ll have all sorts of ugly conversations

and you’ll be at the center of it.

Just remember this…”  He said.

“They can say all they want.  Who cares?

You’ll be living your dream!” 

I love that the LORD has my front and my back covered.  He’s a good friend!

Isaiah 52:12 says…

“But you will not leave in haste or go in flight;

for the LORD will go before you,

the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”

Psalm 118:6 says…

“The LORD is with me;  I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?”

Nobody likes to be spoken about in a cruel way.  And being a Christian and an adult  doesn’t always exempt you from the game.  Believe it or not, some are still playing that game. 

Years ago, as a young Christian in ministry, I experienced just such a thing.  Looking back, I’m amazed at how jealousy had enraged a fellow church member and how she released her wrath upon me.  It was pretty ugly.  She almost brought the whole church down with her gossip.  It was a travesty.  At the very least, she caused a church split.  I was fortunate to have church leaders that stood in the gap and prayerfully protected me.

I have to say, I learned a lot from that incident.  I learned to keep my mouth shut and stay under the wing of God.  When I find myself in such a place, I shall do the same again. 

I'll stay close to the LORD. 

I'll remain focused on Him. 

I'll shut my ears to their proclamations.

I’ll hold up the shield of faith!

I’ll remember what the LORD told me:  They can say all they want,  but I’m the one living my dream, with God by my side.  Who cares what they have to say?  Not me.

In RED shoes,

Gail