The other day I noticed my daughter had a rather distinct tan line just below her knees, from wearing her long softball socks during sunny games. I, being the oh-so-tan-line-conscious mom, said, “Do you want to wear some shorter socks to help get rid of that tan line?”
“No way!” came her response, “I like that it tells people I’m a softball player!”
Hmmm. That was not the comeback I expected at all. And the more I thought about her response, the more I realized I could learn something from my daughter’s acceptance of what might be perceived as a flaw.
I’m nursing my own “farmer tan” from sitting at those same softball games with a t-shirt, and I have definitely been embarrassed to wear a tank top in public since then.
I have a rather large scar on my neck from thyroid surgery a while back. So, I am much more likely to wear clothing that covers my scar than anything that reveals it.
And even though I previously wrote about my decision to stop coloring my hair, I will… um… admit to pulling out the new gray hairs instead of embracing them. (Hey, baby steps here. At least I’m not coloring anymore! 
)
Why is it so important for us to appear unblemished? And to be like everyone else? We’re told not to conform to this world, but most of us feel more comfortable fitting in than standing out.
I guess that is my prayer for today… that we would wear our imperfections as badges of honor. For it’s only by sharing our strengths and weaknesses that we will ever truly have fellowship and community with those around us.
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