You Be You

Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

COLOSSIANS 3:9-10

IMAGINE IF KIDS ALL WORE their Halloween costumes to school every day. When you saw your friend, you’d say, “Hi, Marcus.” And Marcus would say, “I’m not Marcus. I’m the Cookie Monster, and I only eat cookies.” And you’d say, “No you’re not. You’re Marcus, and you hate cookies.” But Marcus would just shake his head and continue eating cookies.

Thank goodness our friends are just our friends every day and we only play dress up for silly occasions. Because it would be hard if our friends always pretended to be someone they’re not. The same goes for you. Every day, you get to be you—not a superhero or a cartoon character or a different person. God created you to be you.

When people act like someone they’re not, we call it being “fake.” When we act fake, we might say or do things we don’t really believe. We’re not being honest about who we are, because we’re trying to be someone else. It’s like putting on a mask and saying you’re the Cookie Monster when everyone knows you’re not. Be you. You’re amazing just the way you are.

DO

Go outside or search your house for something that’s an imitation of something real. It could be sweetener instead of sugar. Or an artificial leaf instead of a real leaf. Or a plastic wreath instead of a real wreath. What’s different between the real thing and the imitation? How is that like what happens when people act fake?

PRAY

Dear God,

Thank you for making me, me. Thank you for all the cool and interesting qualities you’ve given me. Please help me remember that I don’t need to act like anyone else to be liked. I can just be myself because I’m pretty cool. Amen.

READ

Exodus 23:1; Proverbs 13:5