Don’t you love ‘real’ people?
Those precious few who go beyond the superficial, those true-blue hearts that are void of pretense? I know I do. The term ‘real’ is often used, but what does it even mean? Well, one definition is this: not imitation or artificial; genuine.You are a unique and special child of God. Don’t let yourself be a cheap copy of another. Be your authentic self. No one can replace you. No one.
As a child, the classic storybook The Velveteen Rabbit was one of my favorites. It tells of a toy bunny who is gifted to a young boy at Christmastime. However, once he arrives at the nursery, he is snubbed by the more elaborate, expensive, and mechanical toys who deem him insignificant and commonplace. The poor little velveteen rabbit has but one friend, an old toy horse. One day he learns that the toys can become ‘real.’ He finds that to become a real rabbit, he must be loved by his owner; even if he starts falling apart.
As I picked up my worn copy the other day, I couldn’t help but compare this fictional tale to reality.
‘Does it hurt?’ asked the Rabbit. ‘Sometimes,’ said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. ‘When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.’
As we love and are loved by others, heartache and trials will come. The road to becoming real is not without pain… But the hardships we face are the very things shape us. The loveliest people I know are not without scars. Rather, they are those who endured their storms… And came out stronger.
‘It doesn’t happen all at once,’ said the Skin Horse. ‘You become. It takes a long time.‘
It takes time to become who you truly are. But daily, little by little, we do make progress. Be patient with yourself. Slowly, but surely, you are drawing closer towards your goal.
‘Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand…’
Know this: outward beauty won’t last. Your inward beauty and qualities of love, kindness, and loyalty will. I challenge you to be real in your walk with God, your relationships with others, and of course, real with yourself.
All quotes taken from “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams.
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P.S. Click here to read Ashley’s post on being your own you!