Living A Real Life And Celebrating Our Differences

Tonight I was blessed with the privilege of being in the presence of fourteen incredible women in my home.

These women are different ages, have walked different paths, and each have their own story. As I looked around the room, I became keenly aware of the specialness of each one. And, how very unique God designed each one to be.

Isn’t it amazing how God created all of us different? I marvel at how no two people on this planet look exactly alike. Even with identical twins there’s differences. Sure, God can do anything, and He could have made us all the same… with the same preferences, the same interests, the same looks, and the same voices. (Imagine how boring that would be!) But, He didn’t. He creatively and purposefully designed us all differently.

Our differences are worth celebrating!

If this is true, then why is it hard to do at times? Why do our differences cause division instead of unification? Why do we judge another if he/she acts, believes, lives, works, talks differently than you or I? If God made us all different, can we embrace one another’s uniqueness instead of rejecting it?

As we move forward in our 31 Days of Living a Real Life series, this truth is timely for us. As we looked yesterday at how God fearfully and wonderfully made us, it’s natural to turn this truth outward as we view those around us. God made everyone else fearfully and wonderfully as well.

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! Psalm 139:13-14 MSG

I’ll be the first to admit, there are days I struggle in this. I don’t always embrace differences, and often I find myself drawn to others who believe, act, live like me. But, that’s not living a real life.

Living a real life encompasses the real life of others.

What if we encouraged others in their differences? What if we listened to an opposing view without judgment? Today, what if we chose to another in his/her diversity, instead of being threatened by it?

Wow. We might just be the change we want to see. And, who knows what could happen after that!

Today is as good of day as any to see others through different eyes and to help them live their real life too. I invite you to come back tomorrow for another glance in living a real life.

Blessings!
Julie

 

This post is part of our series 31 Days of Living a Real Life. You can find the previous posts here.