Learning to Shine (This Is What I Learned From Rudolph)

I’ve always loved Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer because I too have wondered, “Why am I such a misfit?”

Just as Donnor did to his young buck, I tried to hide my “non-conformities”. I wanted to join Rudolph and his dentist elf friend in crying out “I am not just a nitwit!” Rudolph shared my loneliness, and I appreciated someone who gets me.

But this year was different, and I can’t wait to tell you about my new relationship with my dear friend Rudolph.

This time, I related to Rudolph at the end when he finally found his purpose on Santa’s team. I wanted to clap and cheer when he realized that a perceived impairment was really his treasured talent.

So what changed?

[ctt template=”2″ link=”yN1x1″ via=”no” ]Find out how Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer helped Valerie understand God’s design and purpose for her life.[/ctt]

The Purpose Behind The Design

I’m learning what it means to be God’s beloved daughter as scriptures of His love gradually move from my head to my heart.

“For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 HCSB

A few months ago, I began Grace to Live coaching with fellow Candidly Gal, Stephanie Carter. One evening, Stephanie gave me a new understanding about God’s purpose for my life as revealed in Ephesians 2:10. I’d like to illustrate it with a little story about my daughter, Beth.

Beth and the Birthday Cards

Beth had to make two birthday cards- one for her grandpa and one for her friend, Anna. Before she began drawing, Beth determined the purpose of each card. The purpose of Grandpa’s card was to make an old man smile. The purpose of Anna’s card was to give a little beauty to a friend.

Then my daughter designed each card specifically for its unique purpose. Grandpa loves the woods and deer hunting, so his card depicted a cute, comical scene of a deer in the woods. Anna is a girly-girl, so Beth drew a delicate flower wreath outlined in colorful fine-tip Sharpie lightly filled in with colored pencils.

Each of Beth’s cards carried a message of birthday wishes, but the cards were designed differently to accomplish the purpose for which Beth determined ahead of time. Grandpa laughed, Anna said “Awww…!”, and both felt Beth’s love.

God went through the same process when He made each of us. He needs His message of love to be delivered in unique ways for specific people. With His purpose in mind, God then created a masterpiece to accomplish exactly what He needed.

That’s you.

[ctt template=”2″ link=”7pw4K” via=”yes” ]God custom-designed you to accomplish exactly what He needs.[/ctt]

Let Your Light Shine

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 HCSB

My heart breaks for Rudolph as he tries to hide his glowing nose in the dirt because I’ve done the same thing to myself for decades. But this year, I realized that Rudolph’s non-conformity is also the very gift that allows him to bring light into the darkness.

As I continue to learn about God’s love, I also realize that it’s not about me. It’s about Him and how I am designed to share the message of His love. I’m learning that the characteristics that make me different are actually the skills that God designed to shine His light into the darkness.

As we live out and share the message of Jesus, the Light of the World, we impact the future, and by this, all of God’s children will “…go down in history!”

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