Do you ever wish people could wear some kind of sign that gives everyone kind of a heads up on things you need to know about them? Or vice versa?
For example, I often wonder if I walked around with a sign that said, "ADD. OCD. Depression. Low self esteem. Slightly neurotic," if it would make people be more conscientious with their words and actions, or if it would scare them off or make them decide I was not worth getting to know?
What if the signs said only positive things? "Devoted wife and mother. Desire to be Christ-like. Persistent." Would that then make people want to get to know me? Would they be disappointed if they chose to get to know me based on my sign, and then saw all of the "bad" traits later?
What if it were that everyone wore a sign? Would you greet the person with the sign that said "Addict" or "Murderer" the same way as you would the people whose signs said "Clean and Sober" or "Protective of loved ones?"
What if the signs had positives on one side and negatives on the other? Would you want to only show one side, or would you show both sides?
Some days, I wish I had a sign so that people would know that I have ADD and would therefore not sit and click their pen next to me. They would know that I struggle with self esteem issues and depression and they would not say things in a joking manner that keeps me up crying at night. They would know that I am a little OCD and would not do things willy nilly without a list to check off. Other days, I wish I had my other sign so that people would know that I take my family and my faith seriously.
Then there are days that I wish that other people wore signs so that I could figure out what in the world is going on in people's heads sometimes.
However, one of my favorite things to do is to try to figure out what makes people "click." I love to people watch and find out about them. So, I think the signs would take away from that.
Also, I know that to God, I might as well be wearing a sign since he knows my true heart and spirit. He is the one whose opinion matters most, and that is what I need to remember.
So, my question to you is:
If you could know, beforehand, what would be on the front and back of peoples signs, would you choose to do so?
Would you want to wear a sign?
What would each side of your sign say?
If God made your sign, would it say the same thing as if you made it yourself?
6 comments:
Since cancer roared its way into my life almost six years ago, my signs have changed. Mine used to read negative thoughts and energy, difficult to receive, controlling, funny but usually at the expense of others. Today my sign would read grateful, faithful, positive, open to receiving all that God intends for me, still funny but with a sense of whimsy and compassion. I try to see the me that God created in His likeness, and I try to live a life that honors and glorifies Him. And if I could see the sing that God would write for me, I would hope it would say, "Good job my true and faithful servant.
As for your signs, you made them with labels of who you think you are. But labels are just ways of identifying your challenges, not the essence of who you are. I think your sign should read: Always striving to do her best to glorify her love of God, loving, kind, compassionate, a great wife and mother, giving, thoughtful (in every layer of that word), intuitive, and caring.
But the truth is you don't need a sign to show the world who you are. I can see it so clearly. And so can so many others who love you for the truth of who you are, not for the challenges you may face.
I would not want to see the sign. I like to form my own opinion on someone and I don't need any past mistakes clouding my judgement of who they really are. And anyway, the sign would not really be accurate. What you think about your own self is not necessarily really you. It is very difficult to see yourself clearly. If someone made the sign it would still be wrong because no one really knows what's inside of you. And if god made it then it would be different than what you or anybody else would right, but he would never do that because that because he gives you the choice to open yourself up at the risk of being hurt, or to keep yourself closed and not share with anyone if you don't have the strenght to do so.
yes I spelled write-right and I am totally embarrased.....don't judge me! LOL
Pam, the only sign I see on you is "wonderful, compassionate, kind woman."
Great post!
Mamasita, that was a very interesting post.I always find a little humur in everything, but as I was thinking about your article, my mind went back to your youth and I could visulize little post notes sticking around on your forehead, saying such things as, do not chew with your mouth open, do not scream so loud, etc.
Actually, I think of the Psalm that reads,"It is he who created us and not we ourselves." God would never think more of one person than he would another.It is us who tend to think we are just a little better than the next person. But as far as us mortals, I would really sometimes like to wear a sign that reads, "There really is a brain in there."
Your post reminds me of a scene from a favorite movie of mine... “For the Love of the Game”. The two main characters talk about what signs people would wear to describe themselves. The scene is not entirely fitting to your post but it does make me think. What sign do I put on? What sign am I really? What sign do I claim?...
I think that for me and probably for most folks a sign just doesn't cover us. We are too big and too complex for just a "sign". But I like the comedian Bill Ingvall's routine about people and the stupid things we all do and "here's your sign".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erwv8vcZEoU
Many of us have been conditioned by life to be more protective of what goes on inside of us; really about what comes out in front of others. We are thinner skinned and have been hurt more than anyone would ever know. We are protective... of ourselves, of our feelings. This protection leaves us insulated from the hurt but at the same time, insulated from relationships that can help to heal that hurt. It’s in these kind, trusting caring relationships that we are able to see our reflections in the faces of those that love us not mater what. We far too often hear the nagging voices in our head about our failures, disappointments, about how we aren’t enough; whether smart enough, pretty enough, cool enough, or even rich enough. But… when you have those friends, those precious relationships around you, what you see in their eyes when they look at you is close to how God looks at you. Not the same I know, but close. You see, when people treat me without disregard, it is no surprise. When I am with people who love me, care for me, who have seen me at my worst and best and still WANT me, that redeems me. That makes me more than the sum of who I was before. It lifts me and fulfills me, it is truly transforming.
But back to signs….
Ultimately, whether we realize or claim it, we wear the sign that God gives us. I sooo identify with Naomi in Ruth 1:20, after losing husband and sons, she says don't call me by my name, Naomi (which means enjoyment, pleasure, or gratification) but call me Mara (bitter) because I'm bitter. In my life, I can get too caught up in what others say or think about me and it always hurts. I think about relationships lost, chances that have slipped through my fingers because of mistakes and many times outright failures on my part or in my character. I look at myself and all of these things weigh me down, make me feel so much less worthy than anyone else around me. As if the entire universe has borrowed Bill Invall's line and is shouting in my face, "Here's your sign"!
Another favorite bible verse is one in Rev 2:17. Paraphrased it says, “To him that overcomes, I will give a white stone with a new name”. I love that God has a name for me. That the creator of the universe, who transcends space and time, who knows me intimately, know my strengths and weaknesses, who loves me more fiercely than I can imagine, this Creator has picked out a name that is uniquely mine; “like dances with wolves” or “wild at heart”. He already has picked out the stone and by His own finger, He has already carved a name into the stone and he is waiting to give it to me, to all of us. That is the only sign I want to care about.
I may fail. I may fall. Everyone in the world may know about it. I may have had problems and their consequences may follow me for the rest of this life. More that any of this, I want to grow towards this unknown name that God as for me. This name that He whispers to me as I sleep, this name that He thinks as my prayers rise to Him. This name is the only sign that matters.
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